Dangerous Roadways
$1,950,000 recovery for the family of a 21-year-old wife and mother whose car hydroplaned off a state highway into a ravine, causing her death. After review of thousands of documents, and numerous depositions, the defendant public entity admitted liability for the dangerous condition caused by water running across the highway caused by road construction. This is the only case we are aware of in which the State of California has admitted liability for a dangerous condition of its property in an unwitnessed single vehicle accident.
In a second case involving the same location and same dangerous conditions we recovered $350,000 for a family suffering various injuries.
Trucking Accidents
$1,850,000 recovery for family members whose van was hit by a truck in Southern Oregon. The crash was caused by a freak hailstorm that deposited hail on the road moments before the crash. The defendant driver rounded a curve and lost control of his trailer. Despite the investigating officer's opinion the driver couldn't do anything to avoid the collision, we were able to show the driver was in violation of Federal Regulations and the trucking company's own documentation required by the ICC found the driver to be responsible.
$1,000,000 (policy limits) recovery for the death of a 22-year-old college student killed in collision with commercial truck.
$1,950,000 recovery for severe facial and brain injuries suffered by a young girl when an out of control van and vehicle chasing the van crashed into the car in which she was a passenger. The majority of the recovery came from the driver of the vehicle chasing the van as we proved he was in the course and scope of his employment during the chase.
$2,100,000 recovery for the death of two vineyard workers who stopped on the shoulder of a state highway to help a friend whose car broke down.
The defendant fell asleep at the wheel, drove onto the shoulder and struck our clients, killing them both. The case involved unique issues of recovery of damages to survivors outside the US.
$725,000 recovery for injuries suffered by Canadian tourist in the Napa Valley. This case involved severe orthopedic injuries suffered by our client in a left turn collision. The case involved issues of Canadian insurance law as well as the usual issues of negligence, causation and damages.
$500,000 (policy limits) settlement for death of young wife and mother in head on collision on two lane highway. The physical evidence of point of impact was inconclusive and the defendant claimed our client crossed the center divider causing the crash.
$250,000 (policy limits) settlement for client injured in moderate broadside collision resulting in lumbar surgery. Defendants claimed the forces of impact could not have caused the need for surgery.
$750,000 recovery for a roofer who fell through a skylight on a commercial roofing project. The evidence we developed showed the client fell through an unmarked, un-barricaded skylight, which was inadequate under state law to withstand weight. The general contractor and prime roofing contractor who employed our client's employer funded the recovery.
$725,000 recovery for temporary worker severely injured when a forklift ran over and crushed his leg. The case presented unusual issues of the employment/independent contractor relationship of the parties.
$650,000 recovery for orthopedic injuries suffered by equipment operator injured in bridge collapse. The property owner and easement holder contributed to the settlement for the condition of the bridge which had dry rot and had not been inspected in years.
$500,000 for back injuries requiring surgery suffered by worker injured in slip and fall on icy ramp.
$400,000 recovery for customer of restaurant injured in slip and fall causing hip fracture and need for surgery.
Recreational Injuries
$500,000 (policy limits) settlement in wrongful death case arising out of the death of 25-year-old husband and father in single boat accident.
$500,000 recovery for bicyclist injured when unleashed dog chased him and caused fall resulting in orthopedic injuries. Recovery was funded by the dog's owner.
$1,250,000 (policy limits) recovery for motorcyclist struck by left turning truck driver who never saw our client despite clear visibility. Our client suffered severe orthopedic injuries resulting in permanent disability.
$1,700,000 recovery for 12-year-old client struck by two employees of nearby dry cleaners who were racing at speeds of 65 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. The racing employees were allegedly done with work for the day. We showed time records so showing may have been falsified and the dry cleaners negligently supervised its employees. The settlement was funded primarily by the dry cleaners' insurer and annuities purchased with the settlement funds will provide for our client's future and bought a house for her. She suffered orthopedic injuries and a mild traumatic brain injury.
Confidential seven figure settlement in case involving oil workers kidnapped off oil platform in Nigeria. Our three clients were held hostage by terrorists and their lives were threatened on a daily basis until they were released. We claimed the separate subsidiaries of the defendant oil company had inconsistent security protocol and were not equipped to respond to the attack on the platform our clients worked at.
$250,000 recovery to clients attacked at apartment complex by ex employee of the complex who may have had a key to our client's apartment.
$1,250,000 recovery for family whose new home was destroyed in a fire caused by illegal use of fireworks by neighborhood teenagers. The case focused on the lack of parental supervision of the teenagers and the significant losses including loss of heirlooms and emotional injuries suffered by our clients.
