Cancer death

Verdict: $12,800,000

A cigarette manufacturer was found liable for the death of a 57-year-old husband and father from lung cancer (Boeken v. Philip Morris USA Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Michael J. Piuze).

Leg amputation

Settlement: $5,525,000

An 82-year-old woman required amputation of her crushed leg after she was struck and run over by a bus in a crosswalk (Larson v. CUSA AWC dba All West Coachlines, Sacramento County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Roger A. Dreyer).

Forklift accident

Verdict: $2,239,720

A truck driver was injured when unsecured tables on a forklift fell on him at a loading dock (Fox v. Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Dennis J. Berry).

Racial harassment

Verdict: $5,200,000

An African-American Sears employee was subjected to ongoing racial slurs by a fellow employee, despite filing complaints, and terminated following a minor altercation with said employee (Johnson v. Sears Holdings Corporation, Sacramento County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Christopher Whelan).

Rear-ender fatality

Settlement: $3,200,000

The driver of a vehicle stopped in the no. 1 lane on a freeway was killed when he was rear-ended by another vehicle (Zhang v. Confidential, Riverside County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Stephen J. Estey).

Cerebral palsy

Settlement: $9,250,000

The birth of a child with cerebral palsy was attributed to numerous hospital errors (Confidential v. Confidential, Sacramento County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Bruce G. Fagel).

Breach of contract

Verdict: $9,584,000

A laid-off employee sued his former employer for breach of contract and fraud (Horner v. Carrier Corporation, San Diego County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Kenneth J. Rose).

Bicycle death

Settlement: $2,530,703

A 12-year-old boy on a bicycle was run over and killed by a tractor in a crosswalk (Valdez v. Mejia, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Gary A. Dordick).

Medical malpractice

Verdict: $1,005,273

A patient died from cardiac arrest ten minutes after surgery for removal of her gallbladder (Martinez v. San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Riverside County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Bruce M. Bunch).

Head-on collision

Settlement: $1,250,000

A 19-year-old driver suffered a traumatic brain injury when her vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle that crossed the center median (Braden v. Petersen, Fresno County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Richard C. Watters).

Zip-line fall

Settlement: $3,650,000

A man fell 25 feet to the ground after jumping with a zip-line that was not properly secured (Confidential v. Confidential, Santa Clara County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Richard Alexander).

Bus strikes passenger

Settlement: $225,000

A passenger was struck and injured by the bus he had just exited while crossing the street (Park v. Rodriguez, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff’s attorney: Jae Y. Lee).

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.