Unfair Competition
Verdict: $22,000,000
A guaranteed buyback plan
developer alleged unfair competition and business practices against Best Buy
after he supplied confidential information regarding his strategies, which the
company misused to implement a virtually identical buyback plan (TechFoward
Inc. v. Best Buy Co. Inc., Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s
attorney: Derek Milosavljevic).
Permanent Paralysis
Verdict: $5,725,000
An unarmed man was
permanently paralyzed when LAPD officers discharged their weapons and used
excessive force after they thought he was armed (Contreras v. City of Los
Angeles, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Dale K. Galipo).
Securities Fraud
Settlement: $10,000,000
A Board of Directors’
chairman was accused of securities fraud after he failed to disclose the sale
of shares in his company to his shell company and pressured a colleague
into a stock purchase agreement (Stork v. Textor, Central District Federal
Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Miles J. Feldman).
Wall Collapse
Verdict: Defense
A tenant claimed mild brain
injury and the need for surgery to his neck, back, shoulder and knee when a
wall in defendant’s building allegedly fell on him (Redd v. Scott, Los Angeles
County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Mark A. Weinstein and John Tasker).
Economic Loss
Settlement: $1,865,000
A man suffered neck and back
injuries and also aggravating varicosities in his leg, thereby impairing his
career as a dentist, when a 16-year-old who was speeding rear ended him
(Goodman v. Marcil, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney:
Tom Stolpman).
Coma
Settlement: $1,114,999
A motorcycle rider suffered
permanent catastrophic neurological damages, a coma and must remain in 24/7
attendant care indefinitely after she was thrown from her motorcycle when
another driver ran a stop sign (Kochanski v. City of Colton, San Bernardino
County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Richard C. Bennett).
Insurance Fraud
Decision: $7,010,669
A chiropractor committed
fraud when he engaged in preparing and generating false and fraudulent medical
documentation to support personal injury claims submitted to insurance
companies (People of the State of California v. Dahan, Los Angeles County
Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Thomas E. Fraysse and R. Patrick Snook).
Swallowed Toothpick
Verdict: Defense
A man alleged negligence
after he claimed he unknowingly swallowed a 2 ½-inch toothpick while eating a
hamburger, resulting in serious abdomen pain (Siraj v. Jerry’s Famous Deli, Los
Angeles County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Steven L. Rodriguez).
Crushed Foot
Verdict: $2,988,481
A woman alleged premises
liability against her landlord after he failed to remove a rotting,
disease-stricken tree, which ultimately fell and struck her, resulting in a
crushed foot and macerated knee (Buelna v. Hill, San Bernardino County Superior
County, Plaintiff’s attorney: Mark S. Algorri).
Bicycle Death
Verdict: $3,500,000
A bicyclist was killed when a
man towing a utility trailer on a tractor made a left turn and stuck the
bicyclist with the side of the truck and subsequently run over by its back
wheels (Medina v. Pile Trucking Inc., Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s
attorneys: Arash Homampour)
Excessive Speeding
Settlement: $3,200,000
A woman suffered traumatic
brain injuries and numerous facial fractures when she was ejected from her
truck after her vehicle was broadsided by sheriff’s deputies allegedly driving
95 mph without emergency lights flashing or sirens sounding (Tellez v. Meixner,
Ventura County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorneys: Brian Panish)
Spectator Fall
Settlement: $375,000
A man alleged premises
liability and failure to insert handrails after he fell on retractable
bleachers, resulting in bilateral patellar tendon ruptures with surgical
repairs (Elston v. Hope International University, Orange County Superior Court,
Plaintiff’s attorney: Casey R. Johnson).
Torn ACL
Verdict: $443,371
A man test riding
a new bicycle alleged negligence and products liability when the rear wheel
shifted forward, causing the chain to derail, causing him to slam his leg to
the ground, resulting in a torn ACL, torn meniscus and the need for a knee
replacement (Edwards v. Hands on Bicycles Inc., Los Angeles Superior Court,
Plaintiff’s attorney: Robert R. Clayton).
Editor’s Note: California Bar Journal publishes this abbreviated summary of important trials in California provided by Trials Digest. To report your case results, go to west.thomson.com/trialsdigest/form.aspx or call 415-344-3952.