Fraud Award: $31,000,000 Defendants managed to wrest control of a Korean venture capital firm through
a series of fraudulent maneuvers (Optional Capital Inc. v. Kim, Central
District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: Ralph Rogari). Fatal rollover Award: $1,987,500 Two people were killed and three injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident
involving a Chevrolet Suburban (Shaver v. General Motors Corp., Riverside
County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Michael F. Avila). Title insurance Award: $1,770,000 Title insurance company refused to pay a claim after loans on property went
into default (Creative Investment Group Inc. v. First American Title Insurance
Co., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Bruce M. Bunch). Helicopter collision Award: $9,268,206 Student helicopter pilot was severely injured when his craft collided in mid-air
with another helicopter while attempting to land as a result of negligent traffic
information given by the air traffic controllers (Bailey v. United States
of America, Central District Federal Court, Plaintiff attorney: James
L. Pocrass). Golfing accident Award: $10,250,000 Boy attending golf camp sustained a severe brain injury when another camper
swung his club and hit plaintiff in the head (Butterfield v. Nike Golf
Schools and Junior Camps, Alameda County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney:
William B. Smith). Retaliatory discipline Award: $3,127,500 LAPD officer suffered harassment and retaliation from fellow officers for
filing several work-related complaints (Hill v. City of Los Angeles,
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Gregory W. Smith). Mini-bar leak Award: $557,000 Guest suffered respiratory injuries after the mini-bar in his hotel room sprang
a leak and dispersed ammonia while he slept (McConnell v. Ritz Carlton
Hotel Corp., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: Steven
R. Vartazarian). FMLA Violation Award: $882,000
CORRECTION
The following summary more accurately reflects a jury verdict reported in
December. Defendant prevailed on race/national origin claims. Plaintiff’s $882,000
FMLA verdict reduced to $57,000 on JNOV. (Fitzpatrick v. Hon Hai Precision
Industry Co. Ltd., Orange County Superior Court, Plaintiff attorney: James
A. Rainboldt).
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.
|