Wrongful Death

Driver is killed when he crashes into an already collapsed crash cushion. Family sues Caltrans. $21M.

In single-vehicle accident on a wet road at 2 a.m., decedent's alcohol consumption is said to contribute to his death.

  • Case Name: The Estate of Kevin Walsh v. California Department of Transportation
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, July 28, 2021
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Man dies in crash between two pickup trucks. $5M. Stanislaus County.

Liability is disputed in high-speed head-on crash on two-lane road.

  • Case Name: Rosemary Perkins, individually and as the Successor-in-Interest to The Estate of Paul Perkins, and Maria Consuelo Rosas-Calderon, v. Waterworks Industries, Incorporated, William Anthony Borges, Jr., and DOES 1 to 30, inclusive
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, May 26, 2021
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Doctor negligently treats seriously ill man who refuses hospitalization, later dies. $2 million. Los Angeles County.

Family doctor twice sees patient with symptoms pointing to complications of diabetes, but fails to take appropriate medical steps.

  • Case Name: Tong v. Lew
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, March 29, 2021
  • Monday, 29 March 2021
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Pediatrician fails to hospitalize infant, who dies of pneumonia. $2M. San Bernardino County.

Infant is seen in ER and referred to pediatrician for follow-up care. Plaintiff alleges care was negligent and led to infant's death from bacterial pneumonia.

  • Case Name: Velanta Babbitt v. Cheryl Emoto, M.D., Prime Healthcare, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, October 22, 2020
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Two feeding tubes punctured lungs, causing wrongful death. $1.5M, reduced by MICRA. Los Angeles County.

Nurse injures patient in placement of feeding tubes.

  • Case Name: Nahid Lahiji v. Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center-Torrance, John Flynn RN, and Roman Culjat MD
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, March 16, 2020
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School's lack of defibrillator said to be a cause in death of football player. $8M. Alameda County.

Freshman collapses and dies on field during football practice.

  • Case Name: Pulido v. Alameda Unified School District
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, January 22, 2020
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Bicyclist is struck by car in or near bike lane. $4.7M. Los Angeles County.

City's dangerous bike lane said to contribute to death of bicyclist.

  • Case Name: Knopp v. City of Los Angeles, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 26, 2019
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Man dies of heat exhaustion at country club. $15M. Los Angeles County.

Club member suffers heat exhaustion in locker room, but staff members fail to timely call 911.

  • Case Name: Katherine Keck v. Bel-Air Bay Club Ltd.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, November 25, 2019
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Wrongful death of truck driver when fuel tanks explode. $12M. Los Angeles County.

Truck driver survives initial crash but is burned to death when fuel tanks explode.

  • Case Name: Courtney v. Daimler Trucks North America LLC
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 12, 2019
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Mother dies shortly after giving birth at hospital. $10.8M. San Bernardino County.

36-year-old mother experienced profound uterine bleeding after C-section delivery. She was transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and then the ICU.  Plaintiffs claimed negligent treatment led to her death.

  • Case Name: Yingzhi Li, Cathy Li, Gloria Li and Grace Li v. Thomas Tuan-Tong Lee, M.D., Thomas Tuan-Tong Lee, M.D., Inc., Grand Medical Group Ob/Gyn, Inc., Nicolaas Martin Grobler, M.D., Inland Pulmonary Medical Group, Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Prime Healthcare Montclair, LLC, and Philong V. Ta, M.D.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, October 17, 2019
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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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Addict commits suicide at detox center. $11M. Santa Cruz County.

Man addicted to "Benzos" commits suicide in detox center. Policy limits ($1 million each defendant) CCP 998s served by plaintiffs on each defendant. 

  • Case Name: Cunningham v. Halcyon Horizons Inc., dba Narconon Redwood Cliffs and Bright Futures Recovery, Inc.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, May 03, 2019
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Man training for marathon is struck and killed by DUI driver. $20M. Ventura County.

Woman is high on marijuana and Xanax when she strikes runner on roadway.

  • Case Name: Prewitt v. Chappell
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, March 04, 2019
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Woman tortured to death by her fiancee, the father of her child. $41.6M. Los Angeles County.

Gruesome murder results in large punitive damages award following civil trial.

  • Case Name: Kasian v. Leibel
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, February 15, 2019
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Inmate suffering heroin withdrawal dies in county jail. $1.6M. Monterey County.

Family says he told jail staff he was in withdrawal and they failed to provide medical care.

  • Case Name: Mark Vasquez Pajas, et al. v. County of Monterey, et al.
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, February 07, 2019
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Passenger dies when vehicle collides with tractor-trailer parked alongside freeway. $11M. Los Angeles County.

Driver parks truck illegally alongside road to relieve himself and is struck by another truck.

  • Case Name: Karen Garcia and the Estate of Jose Antonio Garcia v. Tri-Modal Distribution Services Inc. and Jorge Garcia
  • Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, January 31, 2019
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