CALIFORNIA CASES

Brain Injury

Verdict: $17,388,373

A 24-year-old male graduate student and filmmaker reportedly suffered multiple jaw fractures, surgical repair, and a traumatic brain injury (Sheaffer v. NuCO2, San Diego County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney:  Brian J. Panish).

Sand Hole Collapse

Settlement: $2,000,000

College freshman attending welcome week beach bash killed when 6-foot-deep sand hole collapsed (Y.S. v. Confidential, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney:  Otto L. Haselhoff).

Insurance Claim

Verdict: Defense

Victim in underlying car accident claimed she was entitled to $6 million judgment via an assignment of rights (Yamor v. State Farm General Ins. Co., Los Angeles County Superior Court, defense attorney:  Christopher P. Wesierski).

Pressure Cooker Explosion

Settlement: $1,000,000

Pressure cooker allegedly exploded, caused burn injuries to plaintiff's breasts, abdomen and right thigh (Confidential v. Confidential, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorneys:  James P. Carr/Tyler J. Barnett).

Motorcycle Accident

Settlement: $375,000

Motorcyclist suffered multiple fractures in collision (Confidential v. Confidential, San Diego County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney:  Daniel M. Hodes).

Wrongful Death

Settlement: $2,500,000

An 81-year-old was allegedly violently run over by a garbage truck and her body mutilated while walking in the marked crosswalk (Wan v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney:  Thomas A. Schultz).

Med Mal Claim

Verdict: Defense

Family claimed doctors made fatal errors in heart patient treatment (Humpal v. Nelson, San Bernardino County Superior Court, defense attorney:  Campbell H. Finlay).

Soft Tissue Injuries

Settlement: $200,000

Vehicle collision allegedly caused cervical injuries with non-constant but periodic pain (Confidential v. Confidential, San Diego County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney:  Jeffrey A. Milman).

Discrimination Claim

Verdict: Defense

Bartender alleged pregnancy discrimination; jury found for defendant (Gonzalez v. Briad Restaurant Group LLC, Los Angeles County Superior Court, defense attorney:  Kathleen M. Hartman).

Ankle Fracture

Settlement: $390,000

Plaintiff missed the last step of an apartment building staircase allegedly due to lack of lighting (Stickney v. Ishimaru, Los Angeles County Superior Court, plaintiff attorney:  Otto L. Haselhoff).

NATIONAL CASES

Gas Explosion

Verdict: $72,960,000

New tenant badly burned in gas explosion; defendants found 100 percent at fault; punitive damages reduced by over $47 million due to statutory caps (Wells v. Aslan Commons LLCS, Georgia – Fulton County State Court, plaintiff attorneys:  Peter A. Law/E. Michael Moran/Christopher B. Newbern).

Surgeon Injured

Verdict: $6,449,328

Street sweeper allegedly travelled the wrong way along a street in the Loop in Chicago and struck the taxi in which plaintiff, an orthopedic surgeon, was riding  (Trotter v. Waste Management of Illinois, Inc., Illinois – Cook County Circuit Court, plaintiff attorney:  Michael T. Gill).

Editor’s Note: California Bar Journal publishes this abbreviated summary of important trials provided by Trials Digest. To report your case results, go to west.thomson.com/trialsdigest/form.aspx or call 415-344-3952.