Head-on fatality Award: $19,422,080
A 52-year-old husband, father and physician was killed in a head-on collision caused by defendant’s unsafe passing maneuver on a two-lane highway (Confidential v. Confidential, Riverside County Superior Court).
Water intrusion Award: $9,760,000
Homeowners recovered for extensive damage from water intrusion and mold in their subdivision (Romano v. Brookfield Woodside Inc., Sonoma County Superior Court).
Cardiac arrest Award: Defense
A woman alleged that negligent care and treatment during a minor outpatient surgery resulted in cardiac arrest, massive brain damage, and quadriplegia (McCoy v. La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, Orange County Superior Court).
Slip and fall Award: $1,500,000
A tenant sustained severe brain injury when she fell while descending a darkened flight of stairs at her apartment building (Di Palma v. Hunt Enterprises Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court).
Power window death Award: $1,000,000
A 6-year-old boy was asphyxiated when his neck was compressed in the power window of a Ford pickup truck (Cruz v. Laan, Riverside County Superior Court).
Sign installer electrocuted Award: $2,395,000
A 36-year-old sign installer sustained severe burn injuries when he came in contact with a live power line (Baez v. Summit Media, Los Angeles County Superior Court).
Retaliatory termination Award: $186,550
An EMT alleged that he was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for making claims of unsafe working conditions (Reagan v. Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Nevada County Superior Court).
Benzene exposure Award: $2,282,002
A man who worked as an aircraft painter alleged that he contracted leukemia as a result of exposure to benzene (Camizzi v. Akzo Products Inc., Los Angeles County Superior Court).
Gastric bypass Award: Defense
A patient who underwent a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation alleged that an undiagnosed post-surgical leak resulted in serious complications (Bell v. Gladen, Fresno County Superior Court).
Motorcyclist injured Award: $1,625,000
A motorcyclist was thrown into a guardrail when he swerved to avoid a tractor-trailer on a winding mountain road (Baldau v. Bekins, El Dorado 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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