Wage Dispute

Settlement: $2,000,000

Field service technicians alleged their employer failed to pay their wages (Bergeson v. Raymond Handling Solutions Inc., Ventura County Superior Court, Plaintiff Attorney:  Daniel J. Palay).

Pregnancy Death

Verdict:  $3,062,803

A hospital discharged a woman deemed to be a high risk pregnancy which allegedly resulted in her death (Day v. County of San Bernardino, San Bernardino County Superior Court, Plaintiff Attorney:  Martin L. Stanley).

Waste Explosion

Settlement:  $73,433

Three employees at defendant’s Redwood City facility negligently stored and disposed of hazardous waste materials violating the Hazardous Waste Control Law (State of California v. Pellarin Construction Group Inc., San Mateo County Superior Court, Plaintiff Attorney:  Stephen M. Wagstaffe).

Broken Glass Injury

Verdict:  $96,536

A tenant of an apartment was injured after one of his windows shattered and severed his left ulnar nerve (Antoine v. Cooper, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney:  Nicholas S. Nassif).

Trade Secrets Violation

Verdict:  $13,160,890

A recycled materials exporter claimed former employees misappropriated supplier information (America Chung Nam LLC v. Cycle Link (USA) Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff Attorney:  Perry J. Viscounty).

Unclean Hands

Verdict: Defense

Plaintiff was unable to recover a $68,000 jury verdict for a breached lease agreement based on the doctrine of unclean hands ; defendants were awarded over $600K in attorney fees and costs (Overland Corners, LLC v. Chan, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defendant attorney: Luan K. Phan).

Thyroidectomy Fatality

Verdict: $1,375,000

Failure to inspect a woman's airway after surgery resulted in the development of a hematoma in her airway, which ultimately led to her death (Keys v. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Markus B. Willoughby).

Defective Containers

Verdict: $1,588,544

Undisclosed modifications to the composition and sealing capability of guacamole containers resulted in returns, lost business, and lost revenue (Yucatan Foods LP v. Berry Plastics Corporation, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Faryan Andrew Afifi)

Steering System Failure

Verdict: $909,982

Plaintiff lost control of her vehicle after its steering wheel system came apart due to an auto repair shop’s failure to properly secure it after performing maintenance on it  (Sharkoff v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff: Gary A. Dordick).

Lead Poisoning

Settlement: $1,274,999

Plaintiff  claimed her children had elevated blood levels of lead due defendants' painters disturbing exterior lead paint without proper protocols  (Robinson v. Liu, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff: Ryan J. Vlasak)

Fatal Internal Bleeding

Verdict:  Defense

Surgeon allegedly failed to recognize postoperative internal bleeding in patient (Manley v. Richman, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defendant Attorney:  Yuk K. Law).

Brain Injury

Settlement:  $3,000,000

Pest control worker suffered a brain injury after falling from a basement ladder (Waldie v. Platinum Coast Inc., Fresno County Superior Court, Plaintiff Attorney:  Richard C. Watters).

Motorcyclist Killed

Settlement:  $1,250,000

Defendant's insurer agreed to settle for the full limits of defendant's automobile policy  (Estate of Williams v. Rodriguez, Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Plaintiff Attorney:  Rahul Ravipudi).

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.