Oil Spill
Settlement: $44,476,419
The city of San Francisco
claimed extreme damages when a container ship failed to clear a tower on the
Bay Bridge and struck it, causing fuel harm to wildlife,
fouled beaches, and impaired recreational activities by the public (City and
County of San Francisco v. Regal Stone Limited, Northern District Federal
Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Dennis J. Herrera).
Burn Death
Verdict: Defense
The family of a teenager
alleged product liability after their son died after being engulfed in flames
and suffering third degree burns from a defective shaver (Bose v. Wahl Clipper
Corp., Central District Federal Court, Defense attorney: Warren L. Gilbert).
ATV Accident
Verdict: Defense
A woman claimed her ATV
rolled over three times because of a flaw with the ATV’s brake system, rather
than the condition of the terrain (Clanin v. KYMCO USA Inc., El Dorado County
Superior Court, Defense attorney: Richard A. Ergo).
Defamation
Verdict: $40,000,000
A casino developer alleged
slander and defamation when a man made false statements to a TMZ reporter
because of the results of a previous judgment between the two (Wynn v. Francis,
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Barry D. Langberg).
Impaired Driver
Verdict: $7,363,761
A man driving under the
influence of alcohol collided with a car driven by a family, resulting in the
death of a child, personal injuries and negligent infliction of emotional
distress (Wong v. Tom, San Mateo County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Khaldoun
A. Baghdadi).
Tuna Misrepresentation
Settlement: $3,300,000
A tuna manufacturer and
producer made untrue and/or misleading representations to the public by failing
to meet the standard for canned tuna products (People of the State of
California v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC, Riverside County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s
attorney: Paul Zellerbach).
Wheel Failure
Verdict: $11,397,854
The wheel hubs on an
employee’s truck failed, causing a back injury and an inability to work for ten
months (Mariolle v. Volvo Group North America Inc., Northern District Federal Court,
Plaintiff’s attorney: Gary B. Roth).
Spinal Fracture
Verdict: $583,650
A worker suffered spinal
injuries when a temporary construction fence collapsed onto his back at a job
site, and thus was unable to work for six months (Garcia v. Bovenzi, San Diego
County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Keith J. Stone).
Unfair Competition
Verdict: $13,492,000
Diaper pail makers each
alleged the other made misleading claims regarding the quality and availability
of their products (Munchkin Inc. v. Playtex Products LLC, Central District
Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney R. Rex Parris).
Nail Lodged in Head
Verdict: $2,013,017
An employee using a pneumatic
nail gun was injured when it kicked back and discharged a nail into his brain,
requiring surgical removal, lip laceration requiring stitches, headaches and
dizziness (Oliver v. Hitachi Koki US.A. Ltd., San Bernardino County Superior
Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Roger L. Gordon).
Slope Failure
Verdict: Defense
A couple whose house sat atop
a slope, with a history of stability issues, that ultimately failed claimed
breach of contract and bad faith on the part of its insurer for denying its claim
(Koulund v. Pacific Specialty Insurance Company, Orange County Superior Court,
Defense attorney: Michelle L. Burton).
Hemorrhage
Verdict: $698,449
A woman died after she
suffered hemorrhage complications during a cardiac catheterization procedure
(Feng v. Regents of University of California, San Francisco County Superior
Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: William C. Johnson).
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.