Washing machine severs youth's arm
Award: $4,360,000A minor stuck his arm into a washing machine during the spin
cycle, causing it to become tangled in clothing and severed (Singletary v. Pellerin
Milnor, Los Angeles County Superior Court).
Fatal crash in Germany
Award: $875,000
Decedent was killed in a car crash in Germany while riding in a car driven by his
employer's son (Frost v. Flynn, Santa Barbara County Superior Court).
Attorneys dispute fees
Award: $1,103,268
Co-counsel disputed the division of fees received following the settlement of class
action/unlawful business practices lawsuits (Day v. Mills, Marin County Superior Court).
Firing violates public policy
Award: $500,000
A metal plating company fired an employee due to his complaints regarding compensation
and a fire insurance claim (Moore v. Coastline Metal Finishing, Orange County Superior
Court).
Teen-ager hit in crosswalk
Award: $20,924,647
A pedestrian suffered severe brain damage/quadriplegia after being struck by a car as
he crossed the street (Linares v. Babcock, Tulare County Superior Court).
Dog bites young child
Award: $2,326
A dog with a history of biting children bit a 6-year-old on the upper arm, resulting in
scarring and emotional regression (Baddeley v. Johnson, Sonoma County Superior Court).
Excessive force claimed
Award: Defense
Shoplifting suspect claimed civil rights violations/excessive force during his
apprehension by Wal-Mart loss control employees (Thomas v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,
Sacramento County Superior Court).
Slip/fall at Kmart
Award: $47,200
A Kmart shopper slipped in a puddle of milk and suffered knee injuries requiring
reconstructive surgery (Ortega v. Kmart, Los Angeles County Superior Court).
Two electricians burned
Award: $27,327,000
Two electricians suffered extensive burns while handling an unsafely repaired switch in
a building owned by Kmart (Kolodziey v. Kmart Corporation, Los Angeles County Superior
Court).
Insurance bad faith/fraud
Award: $16,983,766
Actions taken by two insurers regarding a life insurance policy were found to
constitute breach of contract and fraud (Julie F. v. Royal Maccabees Life Ins. Co., Los
Angeles 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. |
