Taser Death
Settlement: $4,250,000
A janitor died after being stunned by a taser after honking at a sheriff's deputy (Kephart v. County of San
Bernardino, San Bernardino County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Brian
Panish).
Low-impact Collision
Verdict: $1,409,805
Defendant contended that
plaintiff's lumbar injuries and surgeries were unrelated to a low-impact
collision. (Ice-Dunnigan v. California Academy of
Sciences, San Francisco County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Steven J.
Brady).
False Advertising
Settlement: $2,000,000
Class members claimed that
defendant failed to warn customers that defendant's supplements contained DMAA
which plaintiffs contended was known to cause dangerous health effects (Hogan
v. UPSLabs LLC, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Michael
Louis Kelly).
Mold Claim
Verdict: Defense
Tenants claimed mold, other
issues made home uninhabitable – plaintiffs originally demanded $1 million and later offered to settle for $499,999.99 (Jaquez v. Trudell, San Diego County
Superior Court, Defense attorney: Lane E. Webb).
Public Records Dispute
Settlement: $73,800
Plaintiff recycling center
claimed defendant heavily and improperly redacted public documents requested
under the California Public Records Act and the Oakland Sunshine Laws (Alliance
Recycling Inc. v. City of Oakland, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff
attorney: Robert A. Bernheimer).
Brain Injury
Settlement: $5,000,000
A 63-year-old bicyclist was
struck by a left-turning tractor trailer causing alleged major traumatic brain
injury (Krienke v. Confidential, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney:
Roger E. Booth).
Personal watercraft Accident
Verdict: $21,717,231
Plaintiff, a passenger on a personal watercraft, prevailed on product liability claims against defendant personal watercraft
manufacturer as well as negligence claims against defendant jet boat operator
and defendant personal watercraft operator (Esparza v. Polaris Industries, Inc., Los
Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Lawrence P. Grassini).
Police Attack
Settlement: $45,000
Plaintiff claimed defendant
police officer fractured his knee and wrist with a billy club after plaintiff
fully complied with a request to "Hold it!" (Woodson v. City and
County of San Francisco, Northern District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: Panos
Lagos).
Finger Crush
Verdict: $227,000
Plaintiff claimed that
defendant's employees lowered a 35-foot articulating boom which crushed
plaintiff's index finger (Ohmer v. F&B Rentals Inc., Orange County Superior
Court, Plaintiff attorney: Kathleen Rager).
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.