Dangerous Condition Public Property

Teen is killed walking to school, city blamed for dangerous condition. $60M. San Bernardino County.

Teenager crossing highway at controlled intersection is killed on his way to school.

  • Case Name: Stephen De La Cruz/Summer Johnson v. Town of Apple Valley
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, September 11, 2019
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Experienced bicyclist suffers TBI after crash. $9.18M. Los Angeles County.

City of LA is paid to sweep/clean Pacific Coast Highway, but debris left on road causes cyclist to swerve into traffic.

  • Case Name: Robert Jeffrey Watts v. City of Los Angeles; Caltrans
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, September 20, 2018
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Dangerous condition of City of Long Beach bike path. Defense. Los Angeles County.

Plaintiff on bike path through area congested with disembarking boat passengers collides with boat passenger or luggage.

  • Case Name: Nicholas Espinosa v. City of Long Beach et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, July 27, 2018
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Sidewalk trip and fall in City of LA. $181.5K. Los Angeles County.

Woman walking home from bus stop trips on uneven sidewalk. Plaintiff admitted she knew the sidewalk was raised.

  • Case Name: Arlene Vallejo v. City of Los Angeles
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, January 29, 2018
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Manhole cover in bike lane said to be cause of cyclist's crash. $6.7M. Santa Cruz County.

Manhole cover causes cyclist to swerve into traffic lane where he collides with car.

  • Case Name: Joseph C. Wessling v. Pacific Bell Telephone Company, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, December 07, 2017
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Sidewalk trip and fall in Long Beach. $193K. Los Angeles County.

Trip and fall on sidewalk that City of Long Beach had previously repaired and was marked for replacement.

  • Case Name: Cortez v. City of Long Beach
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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Bicycle rider crashes at night due to raised sidewalk. $138K. Los Angeles County.

Tree roots damage sidewalk where bike rider falls at night when riding on sidewalk rather than in the adjacent bike lane.

  • Case Name: Larry D. Walker v. City of Pasadena, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, December 12, 2016
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Passenger at LAX slips and falls in bathroom. $2 million. Los Angeles County.

Airline passenger slips and falls on wet floor in busy LAX bathroom.  Defense argues "it didn't happen" and the tile floor was safe.

  • Case Name: Lori Triplett v. City of Los Angeles, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, October 20, 2016
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City of Long Beach disputes liability in sidewalk trip and fall. $145K. Los Angeles County.

When plaintiff trips on city sidewalk in his own neighborhood, the argument is over notice and the trivial nature of the defect.  

  • Case Name: Michael Williams v. City of Long Beach
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, July 29, 2016
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High school student struck by car at school bus stop; $9.8 million. El Dorado County.

Teenager waiting for bus is struck by vehicle; claims bus stop was in dangerous spot. School district and county settle out before trial for $5.06 million.

  • Case Name: Carly Bray v. Kassandra Hoelscher
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, January 22, 2016
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Caltrans fails to warn subcontractor of dangerous health conditions at work site. $12 million. Solano County.

Plaintiffs contract dangerous Valley Fever after doing construction work for Caltrans.

  • Case Name: Hukill, et al v. California Department of Transportation
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, January 22, 2016
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Serious burns to young camper result in verdict against park district. $2.9 million. Alameda County.

Severe burns to 10-year-old's hand and arm in fire-pit accident.

  • Case Name: Fabio Hornischer v. East Bay Regional Park District, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, November 19, 2015
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15-year-old dies after being struck by car at dangerous crossing on way to school bus. $20 million. San Bernardino County.

School district hides evidence of its negligence in selection of bus stop locations and is sanctioned by court before trial. Later argues value of adopted son's death.

  • Case Name: Jong Ja Jun v. Chaffey Joint Union High School District and Imelda Hughes
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, July 30, 2015
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Dangerous sidewalk over freeway causes fall, $1.77 million verdict. Demanded $399,999. Santa Clara County.

When scientist trips on sidewalk, city and state argue over who is responsible for inspection of the sidewalk.

  • Case Name: Thibadeau v. State of California
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, June 05, 2015
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Water district pipe leaks, damages commercial buildings. Contra Costa County.

Public water line leak alleged to damage commercial buildings. $331,000 net verdict after defendant had offered $1 million per CCP 998.

  • Case Name: Kelly v. Contra Costa Water District
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, August 08, 2013
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Woman trips at night on raised sidewalk. Jury awards $493,000 and defendant made no offer. Los Angeles County.

61-year-old woman trips on raised sidewalk at night, breaking her arm.  Defendant apartment complex denied fault for tree roots raising the sidewalk.

  • Case Name: Barbara Ferren v. Valley Village South Apartments, a California General Partnership; City of Los Angeles; County of Los Angeles; State of California/CALTRANS, and DOES 1 through 100, Inclusive
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, December 17, 2012
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