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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