Copyright infringement
Verdict: $1,300,000,000
The Oracle Corporation prevailed in a lawsuit against another software company for numerous intellectual property violations (Oracle Corp. v. SAP AG, Northern District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Donn P. Pickett).
Scuba diver
Verdict: $2,000,000
A 45-year-old man participating in a dive trip was inadvertently left behind when the commercial vessel moved to its next location, leaving the diver alone and adrift for four to five hours before he was spotted and rescued by a Boy Scouts’ vessel (Carlock v. Ladd Provisions LLC, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff ’s attorney: Scott P. Koepke).
Pedestrian killed
Settlement: $1,250,000
A 15-year-old child was struck and killed in a crosswalk, allegedly by a bus that was speeding (Crosley v. City and County of San Francisco, Plaintiff’s attorney: Darryl Stallworth).
Medical malpractice
Settlement: $5,900,000
A minor evaluated for head injuries from a fall and released by the ER claimed severe injuries from a subdural hematoma that was overlooked at the hospital (Nicks v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: William M. Karns).
Misappropriation
Decision: $4,725,910
The shareholders of a company successfully sued the president, the sole signatory on all corporate bank accounts, for misappropriation of funds (Gish v. Carlyle, San Francisco County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Ross McLauran Madden).
Pit bull attack
Settlement: $435,000
A 58-year-old woman riding on a bicycle was pulled off her bike and viciously attacked by two pit bulls with a prior multiple-bite encounter who escaped from a backyard through an open gate (Bourdase v. Langley Family Trust, Fresno County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Christopher C. Watters),
Pedestrian struck
Settlement: $365,000
A 77-year-old retiree suffered traumatic brain injuries when he was struck in a crosswalk and thrown 20 feet, landing on his head, by a driver who claimed he was blinded by the sun (Yarema v. Suisman, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Scott J. Corwin).
Rear-ender
Settlement: $935,000
A 30-year-old woman motorist was rear-ended at a stoplight by a shuttle bus, and, despite an extensive history of pre-existing conditions, settled her case for almost a million dollars (McKay v. OMID ADHC Corp., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Tyler J. Barnett).
Wrongful termination
Verdict: $410,520
A 66-year-old legal secretary fired after 20 years with a law firm claimed discrimination based on age and violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (Dodd v. Haight, Brown & Bonesteel, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Michael Louis Kelly).
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.