Sexual harassment Award: $18,401,880 A 25-year-old inventory clerk at Vons alleged that he was terminated after
complaining about repeated sexual harassment from a female supervisor (Stevens
v. The Vons Companies, Ventura County Superior Court).
Confidentiality agreement Award: $37,500,000 A development company alleged that a potential investor breached a confidentiality
agreement (Cisterra Partners LLC v. The Irvine Co., San Diego County
Superior Court).
Wrongful termination Award: $4,200,000 A deputy police chief for the Maywood Police Department alleged that he was
wrongfully terminated from his position in retaliation for whistleblowing (Van
Holt v. City of South Gate, Los Angeles CountySuperior Court).
Tax fraud Award: $11,099,261 A client alleged breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and conversion against the
attorney handling his tax matters (Gunderson v. Gruys, Los Angeles County
Superior Court).
Gallbladder surgery Award: $1,000,000 A patient alleged that her common bile duct was negligently transected during
gallbladder removal surgery (Confidential v. Confidential, Orange County
Superior Court). Dog bite Award: $757,719 A subcontractor was bitten by the general contractor’s dog, which was
allowed to run free on the job site (Wilson v. Simoni, El Dorado County
Superior Court).
Trip and fall Award: $1,000,000 An 80-year-old woman was injured when she tripped and fell over a wheel stop
in a parking lot (Paige v. Smart & Final, Los Angeles County Superior
Court).
Bad faith Award: $1,319,000 Homeowners alleged bad faith failure by their insurer to pay benefits after
their home was destroyed by fire (Major v. Western Home Insurance Co.,
San Diego County Superior Court).
Leg crushed Award: $900,000 A carpenter at a residential job site sustained a severely crushed leg when
a wooden beam weighing several hundred pounds fell from the top of a load of
lumber (Markiewicz v. Mead Clark Lumber Co., Sonoma County Superior
Court).
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.
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