CALIFORNIA CASES
Pedestrian Struck
Settlement: $10,500,000
Liquid nitrogen commercial
truck driver struck pedestrian; dispute over where plaintiff entered the
crosswalk/intersection (Shea v. Matheson Tri-Gas Inc., Alameda County
Superior Court, plaintiff attorneys: Thomas J. Brandi, Brian J. Malloy).
Facial Paralysis
Verdict: Defense
Plaintiff alleged defendant doctor cut off the main trunk of plaintiff's facial nerve; defendant
contended it was an incredibly rare complication of surgery (Castro v. Vartivarian, Los
Angeles County Superior Court, defense attorney: Kent T. Brandmeyer).
Married Couple Killed
Settlement: $7,000,000
Married couple killed;
defendant contended plaintiffs could not recover for the death of their step-father
but plaintiffs claimed special exception applied (Dabel v. Park Place
Constructors Inc., Napa County Superior Court, plaintiff attorneys: Roger
A. Dreyer, Robert B. Bale).
Eye Injuries
Settlement: $175,000
Teen suffered eye injuries
after accidental discharge of air rifle by another minor (G.W. v. Hoberg, Riverside
County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney: Michael A. Penn).
Wrongful Conviction
Settlement: $8,300,000
Plaintiff reportedly
suffered extreme mental anguish and a violation of his civil rights when he was
wrongfully investigated, prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned for 17 years for
first-degree murder (Anthony v. City of Los Angeles, Central District
Federal Court, plaintiff attorneys: Marilyn E. Bednarski, David S. McLane,
Kevin J. LaHue).
Failure to Defend
Verdict: $8,100,000
Insurer, of commercial
general liability insurance policy, failed to defend religious organization at
trial where a volunteer sued for injuries he sustained in Mexico while building
a church (Amor Ministries v. Century Surety Company, Southern District
Federal Court, plaintiff attorneys: Craig A. Miller, Patrick Calhoon, Larry
Crown).
Lack of Guardrail
Verdict: Defense
Plaintiffs alleged there
was a dangerous condition of public property due to the lack of guardrail where
decedent's car plummeted (Kariminasyan v. State of California, Los
Angeles County Superior Court, defense attorneys: Janine R. Fowler, Paul R.
Brown).
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Verdict: Defense
Patient claimed complex
regional pain syndrome resulted from doctor's failure to diagnose wrist
fracture (Kluey v. Eastlack, San Diego County Superior Court, defense attorney: Robert A. Cosgrove).
Leg Amputation
Settlement: $10,250,000
Driver ran red light and
struck motorcyclist in intersection causing leg injuries and ultimately a leg
amputation (Von Normann v. Bloom, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney: Nicholas C. Rowley).
Paralysis
Settlement: $3,100,000
Defendants contended
paralyzed plaintiff's claims for a life care plan were exaggerated because he
was a professional gambler making seven figures annually post-injury (Confidential
v. Confidential, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney: Otto
L. Haselhoff).
NATIONAL CASES
Double Leg Amputation
Verdict: Defense
Plaintiff contended
defendant Hyundai was negligent for designing and manufacturing a pedal
configuration that increased the likelihood of unintended acceleration (Hussey
vs. Hyundai Motor America, Massachusetts – Bristol County Superior Court, defense attorneys: Nelson G. Apjohn, Rebecca H. Gallup, Thomas N. Vanderford Jr.).
Paraplegia
Verdict: $2,200,000
Plaintiff reportedly
suffered T4 ASIA A paraplegia following negligent treatment provided by
emergency physician defendant, attending physician defendant, and radiologist
defendant (Anthony v. Lewis, Chesar, Etzel, Pennsylvania – Crawford
County Court of Common Pleas, plaintiff attorneys: Harry S. Cohen, Todd David
Bowlus).