Sunroof Malfunctions
Decision: Nonsuit
Vehicle purchaser sought
refund after sunroof malfunctioned, with breach of implied warranty of
merchantability being the sole claim remaining at trial (Brand v. Hyundai Motor
America, Orange County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Sean D. Beatty).
Iron Gate Collapses
Settlement: $1,000,000
A 600-pound iron security
gate allegedly collapsed onto plaintiff causing crush injuries, resulting in
multiple surgeries (Bolanos v. Falcon California Investments Inc., Los Angeles
County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Thomas Schultz).
Child Suffocates
Settlement: $1,000,000
Defendant's Million Dollar
Baby dresser allegedly tipped over and suffocated a 20-month-old; settlement
plus voluntary recall of 18,000 dressers (Rautiainen v. Million Dollar Baby, Los
Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Larry Guzin).
Brain Injury Alleged
Verdict: Defense
Defendant admitted
liability but denied organic brain injury and other injuries occurred due to a
minor impact rear-end collision (Gheith v. Thomason, San Joaquin County
Superior Court, Defense attorney: Monte R. Davis, Jr.).
Wrongful Termination
Verdict: $2,729,037
In Phase I, five of the 130
plaintiffs' claims for breach of contract were tried; in Phase II, plaintiffs'
age discrimination claims will be tried (Andrews v. Lawrence Livermore National
Security LLC, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: J. Gary
Gwilliam).
Stabbing Death
Verdict: $3,008,304
Mother awarded $3 million after
adult son was allegedly fatally stabbed and murdered by his impaired father;
with 40 percent liability against the stabber's girlfriend (Villa v. Villa Sr.,
Sacramento County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Robert M. Merritt).
ADA Accessibility
Settlement: $20,000
Wheelchair user claims
Islands restaurant was inaccessible (Sharp v. Islands California Arizona LP, Southern
District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: Jordon Metz).
Corporate Veil Pierced
Verdict: $55,151,509
Security company accused of
negligence after apartment tenant shot nine times by gang member (Steward v.
Stratus Security Services Inc., San Bernardino County Superior Court, Plaintiff
attorney: Gary A. Dordick).
Vehicle Death
Settlement: $10,000,000
Teen-aged decedent
allegedly suffered a severe head injury and subsequently died after his family
was rear-ended at a high rate of speed on State Route 99, (Korol v. General
Parts Inc., Fresno County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Brian Panish).
Severe Brain Injury
Settlement: $15,000,000
A 29-year-old graduate
student struck a Cal Fire vehicle, which allegedly protruded three feet into
the fast lane of Interstate 505 (Ragatz v. State of California, Solano County
Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Roger A. Dreyer).
Foot Fractures
Verdict: $142,246
Plaintiff alleged that a
gas tanker truck ran over her left foot at a Chevron station (Parsons v.
Chevron Corporation, San Francisco County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Albert
G. Stoll, Jr.).
Heart Surgery
Verdict: $6,786,774
Plaintiff contended that
defendant heart surgeon was negligent in both surgical and post-operative care
resulting in decreased heart pumping ability, multiple amputations and a
reduced life expectancy (Roland v. Mohammadzadeh, Ventura County Superior Court,
Plaintiff attorney: Steven Effres).
Flu Class Action
Settlement: $5,000,000
Plaintiffs alleged that
defendants knew that there was no active ingredient in its Oscillo flu remedy
product and therefore Oscillo could not treat or cure any disease (Gallucci v.
Boiron Inc., Southern District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: Ronald A.
Marron).
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.