Pedestrian in crosswalk
Verdict: $18,254,142
A pedestrian injured when struck by a vehicle while in a crosswalk blamed the negligent driver and the negligently designed roadway and crosswalk (Liu v. City of Sacramento, Sacramento County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Dugan Barr).
Foster care
Settlement: $4,850,000
Twins placed in foster care immediately after birth suffered years of horrific abuse that ultimately led to the death of one of the children at age 15 (Confidential v. City and County of San Francisco, Contra Costa County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney Steven B. Effres).
Sexual harassment
Verdict: $4,292,710
A female sales associate sexually harassed by her supervisor was awarded $1 million in punitive damages (Moran v. Qwest Communications International Inc., San Francisco County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: William Gaus).
Bad faith
Decision: Defense
A homeowner’s policy denied a claim for theft of building materials during a remodeling project because the home was not continuously occupied during the remodeling (Aslanyan v. Pacific Specialty Insurance Co., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Thomas W. Ely).
Roofer falls
Settlement: $5,300,000
A 46-year-old roofer was left a quadriplegic as a result of a trip and fall 15 feet to the ground, attributed to a gap in the parapet wall of the roof (Carillo v. Rosetti Construction Co. Inc., San Bernardino County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Richard B. Koskoff).
Trademark infringement
Decision: $60,000,000
A surgical products company sued a competitor for trademark infringement (Neurovision Medical Products Inc. v. NuVasive Inc., Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: K. Andrew Kent).
Bowel perforation
Verdict: $2,201,283
Patient sustained a perforated bowel during “routine” surgery, defect in laparoscopic device blamed (Huber v. Sharp Healthcare Corp., San Diego County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Damian M. Dolin).
Concert attack
Settlement: $1,400,000
A man and woman were assaulted by a group of patrons at a concert and sustained severe injuries despite security presence (Confidential v Confidential, Confidential Venue, Plaintiff’s attorney: Jennifer L. Fiore).
Vision loss
Verdict: Defense
A patient who underwent spinal surgery alleged that as a result of the anesthesiologist’s negligence he lost partial vision in one eye (Ambrose v. Good Samaritan Hospital, Santa Clara County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Bradford J. Hinshaw).
Pedestrian struck
Verdict: $5,746,627
A man who stopped to put chains on his tires was struck by an out-of-control truck (Ornelas v. Southern California Edison Co., Fresno County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Richard C. Watters).
Roof collapse
Settlement: $1,200,000
A negligently remodeled roof of a pharmacy collapsed during a series of rainstorms (Rite Aid Corporation v. The Whiting Turner Contracting Co., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Kevin T. Dunbar).
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.