Patent infringement Award: $82,000,000
A corporation recovered from Sony for patent infringement of components of
the PlayStation video game systems (Immersion Corp. v. Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc., Northern District Federal Court).
Brain damage Award: $7,150,000
An infant delivered at 28 weeks gestation sustained severe brain damage following
cardiac repair surgery (Christman v. Doe Doctors, Sacramento County
Superior Court).
Film rights Award: $121,630,006
A German film distributor sued for breach of contract with respect to purchase
of distribution rights in certain Hollywood pictures (Intertainment Licensing
GmbH v. Franchise Pictures, Central District Federal Court).
Dust storm collision Award: $1,831,490
A college student was fatally injured when her vehicle was struck by a truck
in the middle of a dust storm on the roadway (Medina v. Skittone Almond
Sheller Inc., Stanislaus County Superior Court).
Golf course injury Award: $1,185,000
A golfer suffered permanent loss of vision in his left eye when he was struck
by a ball hit by another golfer on the course (Carlson v. De Anza Harbor
Resort and Golf, San Diego County Superior Court).
Start-up dispute Award: $14,836,000
A longtime Hollywood writer, director, and actor sued his business partners
in a disagreement arising from their involvement in a soy coffee business
(Richert v. Marinaro, Los Angeles County Superior Court).
Stillborn infant Award: Defense
An infant was stillborn, allegedly as a result of failure to perform a timely
C-section after a diagnosis of placental abruption (Mize v. Ukiah Valley
Medical Center, Mendocino County Superior Court).
Unfair competition Award: $3,367,162
Former employees of a wholesale mortgage business violated nonsolicitation/confidentiality
provisions in setting up a competing business (American Mortgage Network
Inc. v. Loancity.com, San Diego County Superior Court).
Customer slain Award: $1,999,999
A man was killed by a group of intoxicated minors at a diner, allegedly as
a result of his perceived ethnicity (Shadd v. California Diner, Sacramento
County Superior Court).
Editor's Note: California Bar Journal publishes this abbreviated summary of important trials in California provided by Trials Digest Publishing Inc. For a free, complete trial report on any case listed, call 510-420-1800.
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