Dental malpractice
Award: $2,623,076
A patient alleged that a negligently implanted tooth obliterated a nerve, resulting in severe pain (Lee v. Kar, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: J. Grant Kennedy).

Bariatric surgery
Award: Defense
A woman who underwent bariatric surgery alleged that her post-surgical complications were the result of negligence (Zachary v. Crookes, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Richard J. Ryan)

Rollover
Award: $5,641,722
A 15-year-old girl suffered massive injuries when the minivan in which she was riding overturned after being hit by a truck (Avila v. Dresick Farms Inc., Imperial County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Brian J. Panish).

Student cheating
Award: Defense
Students at Loma Linda University alleged procedural improprieties in the discipline imposed for cheating (Anderson v. Loma Linda University, San Bernardino County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Roland C. Bainer).

Nursing home violations
Award: $3,000,000
Nursing home residents and employees claimed that conditions in several facilities in California violated state law (Williamson v. Ensign Group Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Stephen M. Garcia).

Racial discrimination
Award: $1,405,000
An African-American supermarket employee for 30 years alleged that his promotions were blocked due to racial animus and he was subjected to ridicule because of his race by fellow employees (O’Quinn v. Raley’s and Bel Air, Eastern District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: Larry L. Baumbach).

Trip and fall
Award: $1,062,760
A woman was injured when she slipped on a garden hose that was left at the bottom of a stairway (James v. Raygoza, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Gary A. Dordick).

Sexual harassment
Award: Defense
An employee of San Diego Community College alleged that she suffered sexual harassment and retaliation at the hands of her mentor (Nasrawi v. Abina, San Diego County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Ray J. Artiano).

Editor's Note: California Bar Journal publishes this abbreviated summary of important trials in California provided by Trials Digest, a Thomson West business. To report your case results, go to west.thomson.com/trialsdigest/form.asp or call 415-344-6000.