Brain injury
Settlement: $13,863,000
A minor impact rear-ender resulted in a rare tic disorder for an amateur boxer and martial arts fighter (Hudson v. Vasquez, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: John Carpenter).
Construction injury
Verdict: $1,651,459
A 58-year-old carpenter working at a bridge construction site was injured in a 10-foot fall as the result of a failed I-girder (Jordan v. Pomeroy Corp., Riverside County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Shawn J. McCann).
Whistleblowing
Verdict: $2,077,375
Two LAPD officers were retaliated against for disclosing violations within the City of Los Angeles and its police department (Chan v. City of Los Angeles, Plaintiff’s attorney: Christopher Brizzolara).
Pedestrian struck
Settlement: $9,075,000
A dangerous condition of a highway left a 17-year-old girl who was struck while crossing in a crosswalk in a persistent vegetative state (Liou v. State of California, San Mateo County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Paul V. Melodia).
Ramp injury
Verdict: $1,323,800
A woman removing boxes from a storage unit fell from the edge of the loading dock when the ramp shifted (Hart v. Storquest Self Storage, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Marvin K. Lewis).
Conspiracy
Verdict: $2,500,000
The relatives of a wealthy man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease conspired with law enforcement to deprive the wife of her husband's assets (Rodriguez v. County of Los Angeles, Plaintiff’s attorney: Steven H. Haney).
Ship inspector killed
Settlement: $2,800,000
A ship inspector drowned while performing petroleum inspections when the transfer crane cable system failed, causing the net to drag him to the ocean floor (Agas v. BW Shipping, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Thomas V. Girardi).
PE injury
Settlement: $1,925,000
A 13-year-old student suffered leg and hip fractures when he stepped into an unmarked hole while running laps at a public park (Bermudez v. City of Pico Rivera, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Michael Alder).
Elder financial abuse
Settlement: $1,700,000
A 76-year-old man suffered significant financial losses when his financial advisor grossly mishandled his investments (Robinson v. Confidential, San Diego County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Craig A. Miller).
Fatal heart attack
Verdict: $1,414,160
A 52-year-old woman died as a result of a heart attack despite the fact that three months earlier she was examined for her symptoms and discharged without any follow-up (Schuman v. Lopez, Riverside County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Andre Rekte).
Unsafe road
Settlement: $5,500,000
A driver sustained massive injuries when the asphalted portion of the road on which she was driving at night suddenly ended, after which she hit a berm, causing her vehicle to fly up and land very hard (Carra v. City of Indio, Riverside County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Matthew B.F. Biren).
Go-kart v. bicycle
Settlement: $1,215,000
A 63-year-old man suffered traumatic brain injuries when a go-kart crashed into him while he was riding his bicycle (Confidential v. Confidential, confidential venue, Plaintiff’s attorney: Jennifer L. Fiore).
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.