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Home Page Official Publication of the State Bar of California December2008
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Pedestrian struck
Award: $3,400,000
Pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk equipped with flashing lights was struck and severely injured by a driver with significant cataract eyesight problems (Hustwick v. Confidential, Orange County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Christopher R. Aitken).

Invention stolen
Award: $4,900,000
Inventor of health-food product was sued for defamation after claiming that his invention was stolen by the company he contracted with to manufacture and market it; inventor prevailed on cross-claim for breach of contract (Angelin v. Brescia, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Cross-complainant’s attorney: John A. Marder).

Medical malpractice
Award: $9,000,000
Patient with hydrocephalus was left partially paralyzed and brain damaged after doctors failed to timely diagnose and treat a serious infection (Sanchez v. Caremore Medical Group, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Steven A. Heimberg).

High-speed chase
Award: Defense
Driver injured in collision with California Highway Patrol vehicle involved in a high-speed chase of a speeding motorcyclist (McGibbony v. California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Mark V. Santa-Romana II).

Racial discrimination
Award: $882,000
Caucasian employee alleged discriminatory termination by a business that showed favoritism to Taiwanese and Buddhist employees (Fitzpatrick v. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., Orange County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: James A. Rainboldt).

Foster care
Award: $1,080,000
Three minors removed from their grandparents' home and placed with an unfit temporary guardian by a Utah tribal foster care agency suffered severe physical and mental abuse by their guardian (J.R. v. United States of America, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: Jonathan S. Weber).

Korean judgment upheld
Award: $7,728,462
Korean judgment affirmed against a Korean land seller for costs of clean-up of hazardous wastes was upheld in a California court (Korea Water Resources Corp. v. Lee, San Diego County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Howard B Kim).

Wrongful termination
Award: Defense
Retirement Plan Manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power alleged that he was wrongfully terminated, not for misconduct but for racial and retaliatory reasons (Vellon v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Defense attorney: Philip L. Reznik).

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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