 NOTABLE EXPERIENCE
(only a few of the more than 200 trials and over 1000 settlements are noted here):
2007 Verdict in Eureka, CA for lumbar back injury $501,000.
In 2006, obtained a total $2.5 million settlement of 17 yr. old wrongful death, venued in Humboldt County (Eureka) consequent to defendant driver losing control in hail storm on Hwy 101 in an attempt to avoid a prior accident. State of Calif. paid $750,000 for lack of a guardrail; driver causing prior accident paid $750,000 and driver who went off the road & struck decedent paid $1 million. No offer made prior to our freelance association.
In 2006, prior to trial in Mendocino County, settled complex product liability case involving multiple foot fractures in excess of $880,000. The plaintiff, while pruning trees on a 20 foot high aerial lift platform fell during its collapse, consequent to the failure of a 12-year-old chain. The aerial lift was manufactured in the late ?70's by an entity which sold the name and the design of the product to a successor corporation which, in turn, sold the same assets to the existing corporation. After defeating summary judgment, a substantial sum was paid by the twice removed successor for defective design. Negligent inspection by a professional licensed entity, prior to its collapse, resulted in a further substantial contribution. Employer negligence was utilized to obtain a waiver of a substantial workers? compensation intervention claim. No offer made prior to our freelance association.
In 2005, obtained $2.2 million settlement one week before trial in Alameda County for a degloving soft tissue injury to the leg of a 49 year old unemployed female. Initial police investigation placed all fault on plaintiff pedestrian and completely exonerated truck driver and his company. No offer was made by defendants prior to our freelance association 8 months subsequent to the accident. Complaint was filed but minimal discovery. From the time of our association, we expedited the litigation to bring the case to the courthouse steps within 6 months.
In 2004, obtained $2.3 million settlement a few weeks prior to trial in Mendocino County, for aggravation of pre-existing brain damage to a 30 yr. old pedestrian due to a negligent driver and a negligent utility pole placement by the city and utility company, obscuring visibility. Highest offer prior to our freelance association was $100,000.
In 2003, obtained $1.8 million settlement, in Santa Clara County, for defective parking gate collapsing on motorcycle client. Prior to our freelance association, highest offer was $200,000.
In 2002, obtained $2.3 Million Recovery for Injured Athlete Member of 2002 Winter Olympic Bobsled Team.
30 year old accomplished amateur bobsled athlete competing for the 2002 Winter Olympic bobsled team operated a bobsled on the Utah Olympic Bobsled track modified with a front rigging camera mount to obtain film for a GM Cadillac television commercial. During the course of the bobsled run, the rigging collapsed causing a crash of the bobsled, head injury, seizures, and permanent disability. A workman's compensation exclusivity defense was defeated despite benefits having been paid. Obtained $2.3 million settlement after trial and final arguments.
$5.5 million Recent Settlement Against Wheel & Tire Manufacturer
In 2001, a 30 year old law student, while riding as a passenger during a rollover of a van due to an under inflated low profile tire and a defective wheel. Expert analysis demonstrated that a manufacturing defect in the wheel allowed air to slowly escape and that a massive air loss in a low profile tire cannot be visually detected by the average driver. This case provided impetus to the Dept. of Transportation decision that now requires tire air gauges to be installed on the dashboard in all vehicles by 2008.
Substantial Settlement Against Manufacturer of Defective Infant Auto Seat
In 2000, a successful recovery for defective design of an infant seat causing a 2 month old infant to be rendered blind, brain damaged, retarded, and paralyzed, while fully strapped into the infant seat which was also fully strapped into the rear seat of an automobile during a moderate accident.
Substantial Settlement in Negligent Fork-lift Design Case
In the late 1990s, a 20 year old U.S. Marine Corp. fork-lift operator had his right leg amputated in an unanticipated roll-over of a fork-lift due to manufacturer's negligent design. A substantial settlement was obtained despite a strong claim of "defense contractor immunity." Safety modifications by the manufacturer followed.
$10 million Post Trial Settlement for Breast Implant/Scleroderma Victim
A 30 yr. old Hollywood wardrobe stylist suffered extreme Scleroderma from exposure to certain silicone formulations designed by Dow Corning in her multiple breast implants. In 1994, after a 2 month trial and no offer, on the day before closing arguments, Dow Corning agreed to pay $7.8 million plus litigation costs to avoid a jury verdict. Other manufacturers contributed $2.2 million in settlement just prior to trial. This was the largest known settlement for a single plaintiff in any breast implant case.
110% Recovery for 187 Victims of Technical Equities Corporation Scam
Represented 187 defrauded victims of TEC in a 1990s security scam. Extensive litigation over several years resulted in 110% recovery by each of our clients of their out of pocket loss, despite insolvency and bankruptcy of the primary principals of TEC.
Substantial Settlement following Trial in Golf Cart Rollover Case
This late 1980's defective design case against the manufacturer of a three wheel golf cart, was on behalf of a severely brain damaged 40 year old golf course maintenance man, resulting in a $5.5 million settlement, just prior to final argument. That case spelled the death knell to the highly unstable three wheel golf carts in America possessing a high propensity to roll causing severe injury & death to many.
1974 - $1.25 Million Verdict: Highest Verdict In Nation
1974: obtained the highest verdict in the nation at that time, against a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary, Ortho Pharmaceutical Company, manufactured an oral contraceptive causing blood clots resulting in total permanent bilateral blindness to a 29 year old mother of three children. That verdict resulted in the manufacturer warning the medical world for the first time that oral contraceptives can cause blood clotting, blindness, death and other serious complications in some women. The manufacturer appealed eventually to the Supreme Court of California but the verdict was upheld.
Corvair and other Automobile Design Defect and Crash-Worthiness Trials
In 1964, brought to trial the first case involving the operational instability of the Corvair against GM. Within 3 years, manufacture of the Corvair ceased. Subsequently, through the years, tried and settled many design defect and crash-worthiness cases against the major world automobile manufacturers which had caused catastrophic injuries/death to the occupants. These trials contributed, with others throughout America, to bring about safer designs in modern vehicles and thereby a substantial lowering of the annual highway injury and death toll.
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