Death in childbirth
Settlement: $4,500,000
The family of a mother of three alleged that negligence
resulted in the death of the woman during childbirth (Freedman v. Cedars
Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s
attorney: Philip Michels).
Fingers amputated
Verdict: Defense
A man who lost several fingers while using a Craftsman saw
brought a product liability suit against the manufacturer and the supplier (Robertson
v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., Northern District Federal Court, Defense
attorney: Kenneth B. Grossfeld).
Carousel accident
Settlement: $450,000
A mother and her two sons were injured on a carousel ride at
a county fair when a scenery panel detached and struck them (Hawawini v.
Butler Amusements Inc., Santa Clara County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s
attorney: William C. Callaham).
Rear-ender
Settlement: $650,000
An 89-year-old driver sustained multiple fractures when her
vehicle was rear-ended and propelled over a curb into a tree (Tryon v.
Evans, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Daniel
Dell’Osso).
Legal malpractice
Settlement: $1,000,000
A law firm was sued for failure to timely file a medical
malpractice claim for a woman who allegedly sustained severe brain damage as a
result of negligent medical care (Roberts v. Wise, Pearce, Yocis & Smith
PC, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Sean M.
Burke).
Rollover fatality
Settlement: $500,000
The stepdaughters of a man killed in a vehicle rollover
filed a wrongful death action against the truck’s manufacturer (Confidential
v. Confidential, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s
attorney: Abram Charles Zukor).
Retaliation
Verdict: $1,182,500
A union steward for the State Board of Chiropractic
Examiners claimed she was driven out of her job for exposing improprieties in
licensing procedures (Arbuckle v. California Board of Chiropractic
Examiners, Sacramento County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney:
Daniel A. Horowitz).
Head injury
Settlement: $400,000
A minor boy who was using an axe with a rope around a tree
to help lift a trailer and truck was struck on the head and face by the axe (In
re M.H., San Diego County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Barry
Pasternack).
Plastic surgery death
Verdict: Defense
Negligence was alleged against a surgeon who performed
extensive plastic surgery on a patient who subsequently died from severe anemia
and septic shock (Goodman v. Hardesty, Riverside County Superior Court,
Defense attorney: Robert K. Warford).
Escalator injury
Settlement: $900,000
A boy was riding on an escalator in the North Hollywood
Metrorail Station when he fell and sliced his hand on a very sharp part of the
step (Oropeza v. Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA Inc., Los
Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Arthur Paul Berg).
Rear-ender
Verdict: $1,725,000
A motorist recovered for neck injuries incurred in a
rear-end vehicle accident (Gustave v. Colmenares, Orange County Superior
Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Christopher E. Purcell).
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.