Wrongful Death
Verdict: $60,000,000
Following a trial finding defendant guilty of murder in the
first degree, his children alleged wrongful death and negligent infliction of
emotional distress against defendant for the death of their mother (Reiser v.
Reiser, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Arturo J.
Gonzales).
Hostage Shooting
Settlement: $950,000
A custodian taken hostage during a domestic dispute was shot
three times in his bicep, chest, and abdomen by an officer who thought he had a
gun (Hernandez v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court,
Plaintiff’s attorney: Steven B. Effres).
Brain Injury
Verdict: $7,456,231
A customer slipped on a wet floor, allegedly causing a traumatic
brain injury (Zaccaglin v. Starbucks Coffee Company, San Diego County Superior
Court, Plaintiff’s Attorney: John H. Gomez).
Inverse Condemnation
Settlement: $13,100,000
Residents allege their neighborhood was flooded when the
levee of an irrigation canal overtopped and washed out during a large storm,
causing a “taking” that entitled them to “just compensation” (Abarca v. Merced
Irrigation District, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Mick
Marderosian).
Electric Shock
Verdict: $1,720,021
A man conducting nighttime roadwork was electrocuted when he
attempted to put out an electric fire caused by a crane striking a power line
during a power outage (Ward v. State of California, San Bernardino County
Superior Court, Plaintiff’s Attorney: James Alderson).
Hit-and-Run
Settlement: $3,250,000
A woman riding her bicycle was struck by a hit-and-run driver,
resulting in a traumatic brain injury, permanent eye injury, fractured collar
bone, and multiple abrasions (Jackson v. Schiro, Santa Clara County Superior
Court, Plaintiff’s Attorney: Lewis Van Blois).
Faulty Gas Pump
Verdict: Defense
A woman alleged product liability after sustaining
neurologic and orthopedic injuries when a retractor pole dislodged from the
side of a gas pump, striking her (Murphy v. BP West Coast Products, San Diego
County Superior Court, Defense Attorney: Robert W. Harrison).
Police Collision
Settlement: $6,600,000
A woman backing out of her car was hit by an LAPD cruiser
driving at least twice the speed limit, without its headlights, emergency
lights, or siren, resulting in her death (Lugo v. City of Los Angeles, Los
Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s Attorney: Brian Panish).
Infant Injury
Settlement: $475,000
An infant dropped during delivery suffered brain damage, a
skull fracture, and grand mal seizures (Segura v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals,
San Bernardino County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s Attorney: James F. Tierney
III).
Drowning
Verdict: Defense
The family of a man who drowned after a ship collision while
fishing alleged the coast guard to be negligent after the search was called off
(Wade v. United States of America, Northern District Federal Court, Defense
Attorney: Jeanne M. Franken).
Conspiracy
Verdict: Defense
A man alleged his family and friends assisted his wife in
abducting their son and fleeing to India, claiming conspiracy and negligent
infliction of emotional distress (Kulkarni v. Upasani, Orange County Superior
Court, Defense attorney: Craig M. Nicholas).
Taser Death
Settlement: $1,300,000
The family of a man who died as a result of Taser shock when
police responded to a 911 call alleged excessive force (Dang v. City of Garden
Grove, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Sean Hennessey).
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.