CALIFORNIA CASES
Cervical Spine Injuries
Verdict: $10,770,598
Software salesman suffered
disc injuries requiring surgery after being forced off the roadway by a truck (Hansen
v. Werner Enterprises Inc., Central District Federal Court, plaintiff attorney: Robert T. Simon).
Age Discrimination Claim
Verdict: Defense
Deputy sheriff's alleged
reassignment from detective to patrol was retaliatory (Fitzgerald v. County
of El Dorado, Eastern District Federal Court, defense attorneys: C.
Christine Maloney, Carl Fessenden).
Welding Explosion
Settlement: $2,650,000
Farm maintenance worker
attempted to weld an old fuel tank as instructed, tank exploded killing the
worker (J.P. v. Smokey Jack L.P., Fresno County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney: Richard C. Watters).
Loss of Career
Settlement: $6,988,961
Police officer alleged
disabling injuries resulted from rear-end collision forcing him to resign (Smith
v. Tri-Cal Distributors L.L.C., Sacramento County Superior Court, plaintiff attorneys: Roger A. Dreyer, Jonathan R. Hayes, Daniel G.
Schneiderman).
Hypoxic Brain Damage
Settlement: $1,700,000
A cancer patient alleged
that post-op airway mismanagement resulted in hypoxic brain damage (Confidential
v. Confidential, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney: Marshall
Silberberg).
Distracted Botox Driver
Settlement: $3,750,000
Plaintiff alleged brain
injuries resulted from a red light violation collision caused by a distracted
driver (Tenove v. Jahroumi, Orange County Superior Court, plaintiff attorneys: Christine D. Spagnoli, Molly McKibben).
Shopper Injured
Verdict: $886,974
A loaded merchandise cart
struck an 86-year-old woman from behind in a grocery store (Plent v.
Anheuser-Busch L.L.C., Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney: John F. Denove).
Unnecessary Pacemaker Claim
Verdict: Defense
Cardiologist allegedly
placed unnecessary pacemaker, leading to infection (Handal v. Yee, Los
Angeles County Superior Court, defense attorney: Kent T. Brandmeyer).
NATIONAL CASES
Motorcycle Accident
Settlement: $1,759,704
Motorcyclist reportedly
suffered life-threatening injuries when two other vehicles stopped suddenly causing
plaintiff to strike the rear vehicle (Heggen v. Garcia, Iowa – Polk
County District Court, plaintiff attorneys: Charles E. Cutler, Joni L. Ploeger).
False Claims Act
Verdict: $8,860,000
Senior living provider
allegedly assisted residents with fraudulent applications for VA benefits, then
failed to provide daily care assistance to residents receiving the benefits (United
States v. Fortress Inv. Grp., Oregon – U.S.D.C., D.Or., plaintiff attorneys: Anne N. Izzo, Charles Siegel, David F. Sugerman, Amy Johnson).
Editor’s Note: California Bar Journal publishes this abbreviated summary of important trials provided by Trials Digest. To report your case results, go to west.thomson.com/trialsdigest/form.aspx or call 415-344-3952.