Pedestrian killed

Settlement: $7.45 million

A 31-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed in a crosswalk by an MTA bus (Estate of Hua v. LACMTA, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Geoffrey Wells).

Jet crash

Decision: $17.84 million

A U.S. Marine Corps jet crashed into a house in San Diego, killing four family members (Yoon v. United States, Southern District Federal Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Brian Panish).

Intoxicated sheriff's deputy

Settlement: $4.75 million

A sheriff's deputy who was allegedly intoxicated sped through a red light and struck a vehicle, causing severe brain damage to its driver (Aldana v. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Keith A. Adesko).

Nursing care

Verdict: Defense

An 81-year-old hospital patient alleged that negligent nursing care left him with permanent nerve damage (Nigra v. Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Raymond L. Blessey).

Party death

Decision: $7.04 million

A party held by a teenager while her parents were away resulted in the stabbing death of one of the attendees (Ramos v. Oppelt, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Robert C. Cheasty).

Hit-and-run

Verdict: $2.5 million

A pedestrian walking home from a friend's house was struck and killed by a driver who then fled the scene (Heston v. Garcia, Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Lars C. Johnson).

Genetic testing

Settlement: $1.75 million

Alleged negligence in prenatal genetic testing led to the birth of a Down syndrome baby (Confidential v. Confidential, Orange County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Daniel M. Hodes).

Scuba diver death

Verdict: Defense

Negligence was alleged in the drowning death of a scuba diver on a chartered lobster-hunting trip (Goetz v. Horizon Charters, San Diego County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Stephen L. Hewitt).

Drunk driver

Settlement: $1 million

A passenger was severely injured when an SUV driven by a drunk driver plunged down an embankment on a rural road (Becker v. Bowie, Monterey County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Matt Zandi).

Bad faith

Settlement: $6 million

An insurer was sued for wrongful withdrawal of defense and refusal to settle a civil lawsuit (Confidential v. Confidential, San Diego County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Craig A. Miller).

Wrongful termination

Verdict: $1.09 million

The director of the Department of Education of California Pacific Medical Center was terminated in retaliation for demands that serious illegalities be remedied and out of fear that he would pose a threat in upcoming audits (Miller v. California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Dennis E. Blum).

Passenger paraplegia

Settlement: $3.3 million

A passenger in a catering truck was left disabled after the catering truck was struck by a fire truck allegedly being operated negligently (Roman v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: Timothy J. Wheeler).

Construction zone

Settlement: $4.94 million

Visibility problems in a construction zone were blamed for an accident in which a motorcyclist and his passenger were injured (Cooper v. Rawisch, Lassen County Superior Court, Plaintiff's attorney: John C. Taylor)