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$12.1 million awarded to brain damaged East Bay boy – but he hasn’t seen a cent

September 3, 2017 | Gary Peterson

In September 2014, after over five years of litigation, Brian C. received a $12.2 Million Verdict against Contra Costa County (insured by AIG). Although the primary physician, Maria Teresa Madrigal, M.D., altered the medical records and lied about it, The County denied responsibility for Brian’s injuries throughout trial. On appeal, The County, though AIG, admitted responsibility for Brian’s injuries and that they owe him over $2.3 Million for Lost Earnings Capacity, past medical care costs and general damages. The Appellate Court ordered a New Trial on the limited issue of the reasonable value of future medical and attendant care costs Brian is entitled to receive. AIG continues to seek to force Brian’s family to accept an inadequate settlement that will not fully compensate him by delaying the matter.

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Man ruled insane in Berkeley killing that exposed system failure

June 2, 2015 | Henry K. Lee

The wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Berkeley, CA was resolved after the police agreed to make improvements in their responses to calls for help, said the Cukor family Attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois. The killer of Peter Cukor was ruled insane and committed to a State mental hospital on May 29, 2015 for 33 years to life. For more information about the ruling and settlement see the first page headlines and article in the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Camp May Have Ignored Safety Warnings Years Before a Deadly Accident

June 2, 2015 | Vicky Nguyen, Liza Meak and Jeremy Carroll

The lawsuit for the wrongful death of an intelligent and talented 21 year old woman was recently settled out of Court, said the family attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois. Annaїs Rittenberg was killed instantly when an 80 foot tall 300 year old black oak tree fell on July 3, 2013 at Camp Tawonga, a summer camp near Yosemite. Legal documents obtained from the case by NBC Bay Area News were reported in a story that first aired May 11, 2015.

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Family of truck driver who died in fiery Pittsburg crash files lawsuit

April 21, 2015 | Katrina Cameron

A lawsuit against the owners of the big rig that crashed and exploded on March 16 in Pittsburg was filed Wednesday in Solano County. Oakland personal injury attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois, is representing the minor child of the truck driver who died in the fiery crash. “Apparently the brakes and other mechanical systems failed as the truck came down Kirker Pass Rd.” The big rig truck then crashed into a restaurant and exploded.

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Farm Deaths

July 17, 2014 | Modern Farmer

Agriculture jobs are the most dangerous in the world. R. Lewis Van Blois, a California Personal Injury Lawyer, has represented the estates of many deceased or severely injured ag workers.

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Lawsuit Filed in Death of Camp Counselor

August 7, 2013 | San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate by Bob Egelko

The parents of Annais Rittenberg, a 21 year old camp counselor who was killed by a falling tree in a Sierra Foothills campground last month, filed suit blaming their daughter’s death on slipshod inspections by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s tree management contractors and arborists. Annais was crushed to death when an 80 foot oak tree collapsed onto benches where she and other counselors were sitting at Camp Tawonga in Tuolumne County, near Yosemite National Park. The Rittenbergs’ lawyer, R. Lewis Van Blois of Oakland said, “After an inspection, our experts said the tree was ready to fall at anytime.”

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Family of Murdered Berkeley Man Wrongful Death Lawsuit

November 15, 2012 | CBS San Francisco

The wife and two sons of a 67 year old man who was killed outside his home in the Berkeley Hills in February filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City Thursday, alleging that it was negligent in the way it handled the situation. R. Lewis Van Blois, the attorney who filed the suit on behalf of the Cukors, said Thursday that the Police department had “plenty of officers” on duty that night but the department’s priority was to have them monitor Occupy Wall Street protesters who were marching from Oakland to Berkeley. Van Blois said the Police department has the right not to send an officer to a potential emergency situation but in Cukor’s situation they should have told him they weren’t sending someone immediately but if the threat continued he should call them back.

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Family of Murder Victim Cukor Files Suit Against Berkeley

November 15, 2012 | Frances Dinkelspiel/ Berkleyside News

R. Lewis Van Blois, the Cukor family attorney, charged in the lawsuit that the city and police acted grossly negligent in their handling of Cukor murder. “Peter Cukor had called the Berkeley Police Department on their emergency number for help to request a police officer be sent to their home right away because the intruder was attempting to get inside the Cukor home and was acting strangely,” Van Blois said. “The police dispatcher promised to get someone to their home soon and the Cukors relied on this representation. In fact, the Berkeley Police Dispatcher never intended nor requested a police officer respond and when a police officer called to say he could respond to the call, he was told not to go.”

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Ex-Pet Store Worker gets $1.1 Million

August 4, 2011 | Chris De Benedetti / Oakland Tribune

Pet Store worker gets $1.1 million dollars when injured while assisting a Fremont Police Officer during a burglary investigation. The man’s attorney, Lewis Van Blois, said his client was taking a ladder onto the roof when he fell through a skylight to the pavement below.

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$1M-plus for Man Hurt Helping Fremont Cop

August 2, 2011 | Henry K. Lee, SF Chronicle

An employee of a Fremont pet store who suffered brain damage in a fall after a police officer allegedly sent him up to the roof to help in a burglary investigation will receive more than $1 million to settle his lawsuit against the city and the store’s landlord, said his attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois of Oakland. “Police always say that protection of citizens is their core responsibility, and in this instance they forgot or overlooked or didn’t consider the safety of their citizens,” Van Blois said. “They failed to consider the risks and dangers of employing or bringing in a citizen to do a dangerous task, which is really their job.”

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Judge Withdraws Schiro’s Plea Deal, Stiffer Sentence Expected

November 15, 2010 | Brian Babcock/ Mercury News

Judge Navarro did not say in court what had changed his mind, but the victims’ lawyer, R. Lewis Van Blois believes he knows. “The Judge’s mind was likely changed by reviewing the 60-plus page report from the county probation department that outlined Schiro’s history of disregard for the law and his lack of remorse.” Van Blois said.

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Family of Trucker Killed on S-curve Files Suit

October 27, 2010 | Jill Tucker / SF Chronicle

The family of a 56 year old trucker killed when his big rig toppled over the side of the Bay Bridge has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against CalTrans and several other companies. “It was clear that the public was unaware of how sharp those curves were and how drastically you had to reduce your speed until after the accident,” said the family’s attorney Lewis Van Blois. “What this means in legal terms is that they crated a trap… a concealed trap that surprised drivers and didn’t give them the opportunity to make it through the curve.”

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Hayward Trucker’s Family Sues Caltrans over Bay Bridge S-curve

October 26, 2010 | Kristin Bender/ Oakland Tribune

The family of a man who died after his truck flipped over a Bay Bridge wall and plunged onto Yerba Buena Island filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the state and civil engineers who designed and warned about the S-curve where the accident happened. At least 43 accidents had occurred at the curve from the time it opened Sept.8, 2009, until the day Fakhar was killed, said Oakland attorney Lew Van Blois, who filed the suit on behalf of Fakhar’s widow and two adult sons.

Family of Trucker Sues Caltrans Over S-curve

October 25, 2010 | ABC local News

Driver’s have complained it’s dangerous, and now Caltrans will have to defend its design of a section of the Bay Bridge called the “S-curve. Lewis Van Blois filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a driver who plunged to his death off the bridge. It’s clear that they realized that their warnings were inadequate,” says Van Blois.

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Another Hearing, but still no pleas entered by Schiro in hit-and-run

May 30, 2010 | Brian Babcock /San Jose Mercury News

Oakland Attorney R. Lewis Van Blois represents Ashley Jackson who was seriously injured by hit and run driver Robert Schiro while riding her bicycle in the bike lane of Highway 9. “We just want people to know that, in the civil and criminal cases, we are going to make him pay,” the couple’s attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois, said last month outside the Santa Clara Hall of Justice in San Jose. “We want to get justice on both ends.”

Oakland Residents Demand City Fix Dangerous and Deadly Curve

May 27, 2010 | KTVU News

“In the last five years there have been well over 10 accidents right here at this curve,” said attorney Lewis Van Blois. Van Blois represents the family of 21 year old college student, Cesar Sopelario, who was killed while attempting to navigate the sharp curve.

Oakland Lawsuit Settled, But Raises Questions About Road’s Safety

May 26, 2010 | Kelly Rayburn, Oakland Tribune

Merritt College student, Cesar Sopelario, was killed while attempting to navigate a sharp curve on Redwood Road (35th Avenue). Lewis Van Blois, the Oakland attorney representing the family achieved a large settlement for the family but said it does not solve the underlying problems with the street’s safety that include “reverse banking” of the deadly curve.

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CHP Blitz Slowing On Bay Bridge S-Curve

May 7, 2010 | John Upton, San Francisco Examiner

Rumble strips, additional signage, reflective striping, protective fencing to prevent vehicles going over the guardrail and police enforcement have prevented any major accidents on the Bay Bridge after the fatal crash. Attorney Lewis Van Blois filed a claim alleging the roadway’s condition at the time of the trucker’s death was dangerous.

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Cyclist’s Supporters Show Up for Court

May 7, 2010 | By Patty Fisher / Mercury News

Jackson and Nelson were hit by a BMW while riding in a bike lane on Highway 9 in Saratoga on April 19, 2009. The car drove off, but Nelson got a look at it and the police impounded damaged Schiro’s car within a few weeks. But Schiro denied being behind the wheel that day, and no charges were filed against him until last month. “We let law enforcement do its job,” said her attorney Lewis Van Blois. “Now we are looking for fair compensation and justice.”

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Death-plunge Trucker’s Family Files Claim

April 29, 2010 | Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle

R. Lewis Van Blois, the attorney for the family of a 56 year old truck driver who plummeted from the upper deck of the Bay Bridge in November filed a claim against Caltrans, saying there weren’t adequate warning signs alerting drivers to the bridge’s new S-curve. “They (Caltrans) failed miserably to warn drivers in advance that they were coming into the S-curve,” Van Blois said. He said the design was negligent.

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Woman Stabbed at DMV Settles Civil Suit

February 6, 2010 | Stockton Record

A woman who was stabbed at the American Street branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles in Stockton has settled her civil suit against the state office’s contracted security company said her Oakland attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois. “The security company should have never allowed the attacker into the DMV.” said Van Blois.

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It’s A Tragedy Waiting To Happen

July 4, 2005 | Matt O’Brien, Oakland Tribune

Oakland Lawyer Lewis Van Blois has been suing railroad companies since the late 1960’s on behalf of children in the Bay Area who wander onto dangerous tracks where there are no fences and the injuries are catastrophic. The railroads believe they are untouchable so there is little that is done to prevent train accidents.

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They Call It “Blood Alley”

July 3, 2005 | The Oakland Tribune/ Daily Review staff

The railroad tracks between Oakland and Fremont in California are known as “BLOOD ALLEY” because of the excessive number of deaths that occur on the tracks. Oakland personal injury lawyer, Lewis Van Blois, stated that “suing the large corporations remains a daunting task and are so expensive that there are not many people who will take the cases.”

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Last Suit Settled Over Deadly Tracy Intersection

March 18, 2005 | Rick Brewer The Stockton Record

Oakland attorney Lewis Van Blois settled the last of the three catastrophic accidents occurring at the intersection of 11th Street and Lammers Road in Tracy. The three separate accidents have resulted in settlement for Van Blois’ clients totaling $8,470,000.

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Ex-Priest, Diocese Agree to Settlement

November 26, 2003 | Brian Anderson / Contra Costa Times

A former Priest and the Catholic Diocese of Oakland have agreed to pay $17 million to a man who was sexually abused by the Priest when he was 15 years old. R. Lewis Van Blois, the Oakland lawyer who represented the man said the case settled just before the former Bishop of the Diocese took the witness stand.

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Former Priest, Diocese Settle Abuse Suit

November 25, 2003 | Oakland Tribune

A former Fremont priest agreed to pay $16 million to the victim and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland agreed to pay $1 million, said attorney R. Lewis Van Blois, who represents victim Mark Bogdanowicz. “It’s been extremely difficult for himself and his family,” Van Blois said. “He’s been courageous through-out the ordeal.”

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Firm to Pay $900,000 for Fatal Fire

October 25, 1996 | Ann Griffith / Contra Costa Times

A Martinez construction firm will pay $900,000 as a result of a 1995 industrial accident. A fire injured a worker, represented by Oakland attorney Lewis Van Blois. The fire was fed by flammable oxygen from a leaking pipe. Lawyers had begun their arguments when the settlement was reached.

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Man Put Into a Coma by Heater Settles Suit

May 6, 1993 | Ben Chamy/ The Oakland Tribune

The Oakland man put into a coma because of exposure to a faulty apartment heater spewing carbon monoxide will settle a lawsuit against the manufacturer for over $4.55 million dollars. “It is an excellent result,” said Lewis Van Blois, the man’s attorney. “Now this family has the funds to help get qualified care to help them.”

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First Injury Claims Filed With State

October 24, 1989 | Associated Press

Sacramento California,. The first of an expected long line of damage claims against the state from the October 17 earthquake were filed Tuesday by two workers injured in the collapse of the Cypress Elevated Freeway on I-880 in Oakland, their lawyer said. The lawyer, R. Lewis Van Blois, cited published reports of “statements made by CalTrans engineers and former engineers, references to interoffice memos, and the 1982 task force study that stated in essence that the elevated structure would receive extensive damage in an earthquake.”

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City pays paralyzed teen $3.3 million

April 14, 1988 | Ken Leiser/ Hayward Daily Review

The City of Fremont agrees to pay $3.33 million to a 14 year old boy paralyzed in auto accident. The payment to the boy, represented by R. Lewis Van Blois, was one of the largest sums ever paid for a tort claim in the City’s history.

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Oakland to Pay $3.4 million to Boy Disabled in Auto Accident

May 30, 1985 | Ramon Coronado / Oakland Tribune

The City of Oakland to pay $3.4 million to a boy in an auto accident. His lawyer, R. Lewis Van Blois said he was prepared to prove in a trial that the City was negligent in not having a traffic signal at the intersection.

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Canyon Victim Son of Cuban Immigrants

March 21, 1985 | Dan Stephens / San Luis Obispo Telegram Tribune

The family of a Canyon victim shot in a remote campground will receive a settlement for his death according to attorney R. Lewis Van Blois

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BART Settles Last Tube Fire Lawsuit

September 14, 1984 | Del Lane/ Oakland Tribune

Oakland firemen injured in the BART transbay tube fire will receive $800,000 according to R. Lewis Van Blois, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs.

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Injured Worker Awarded $6 Million

November 24, 1983 | Helaine Lasky / Hayward Daily Review

Injured Worker awarded $6 million for injuries when he fell four stories while doing plastering work according to his attorney, Lewis Van Blois, who claimed the builders of the condominium project were negligent and careless by failing to provide adequate safety protection.

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Diet Doctor to Pay Patient’s Survivors

November 9, 1983 | Karen Franklin/ Hayward Daily Review

Diet Doctor who’s clinics were shut down has agreed to pay a confidential settlement to the family of an obese woman who died of an acute heart attack as a result of her stringent diet according to her family’s attorney, R. Lewis Van Blois of Oakland.

The $1 Million Crash Verdict Sets Legal Precedent

January 16, 1983 | Karen Franklin/ Hayward Daily Review/ San Francisco Examiner

The $1 million awarded by a Hayward jury sets legal precedent by extending the responsibility of parents for the actions of their adult children according to R. Lewis Van Blois the Oakland trial attorney

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U.S., State Agree to Pay Victim of Accident

January 22, 1981 | Marty Schneider/ Hayward Daily Review

The U.S. and State agree to pay $1.2 million to a Hayward man injured when a National Guardsman ran a stop sign. Eat Bay attorney Lewis Van Blois reached the settlement at trial during jury selection

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$29,069,856 Trial Judgment - Deceptive Homeowner Sales

$29 million judgment at trial in a class action against a contractor for fraudulent sales of exterior vinyl siding to homeowners in Northern California

Fraud and Bad Faith

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$18.4 Million - City failed to install left turn lane

$18.4 million life time benefits from settlement in Fremont, California for a 14 year old boy rendered a quadriplegic when he fell from a pickup truck waiting to make a left turn that was hit from behind.

Auto Accidents, Child Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$17,050,000 Settlement during trial – Clergy Sexual Abuse

$17 million settlement during trial in Oakland, California for the sexual molestation of a 15 year old Altar boy by a Catholic priest in Fremont, California.

Child Abuse and Clergy Abuse,
Child Injuries

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$16,884,563 Trial Judgment – Fraud in Homeowner Improvements

$16.8 million judgment at trial in a class action against a contractor for deceptive homeowner improvements in the Bay Area and Sacramento, requiring financing in violation of consumer protection laws.

Fraud and Bad Faith

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$11.75 million Settlement at Trial -Farm Worker injured in a Left Turn Collision

$11.75 million settlement benefits at trial in Stockton, California for an 18 year old Farm Worker who received a traumatic brain injury in a left turn collision with a truck. The CHP officer blamed the farm worker driver for the collision and the truck driver's insurance company refused to settle the case.

Auto Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries, Farm and Agricultural Accidents,
Fraud and Bad Faith

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$11.1 million settlement - Dirty Truck Windshield Causes Collision

$11.1 million settlement for school photographer who received traumatic brain injury when a truck with a dirty windshield made a left turn causing a collision in Napa, California.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries

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$9.75 Million Settlement – Fraudulent Sales of Solar Heating Systems in California

$9.75 million settlement of class action for fraudulent sales and business practices in the sale of solar heating systems to over 4,000 homeowners throughout California.

Fraud and Bad Faith,
Product Liability

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Confidential Settlement – Mortgage Lending Violations

Confidential Settlement – Mortgage Lending Violations including concealed fees, excessive fees and other fraudulent charges. The case settled during trial

Fraud and Bad Faith

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$8,470,000 Settlement - Dangerous Intersection and Negligent Truck Drivers cause Five Deaths

$8.4 million settlement for wrongful deaths and permanent brain injury in three accidents at a dangerous intersection in Tracy, California. Big Rig trucks without adequate lighting and reflective markings cause fatal accidents.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Wrongful Death

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$8.2 Million Settlement - Clergy Sexual Abuse

$8.2 million settlement for sexual molestation of 5 young girls, 8 to 11 years old, by Steven Kiesle, a Catholic priest in Fremont, California.

Child Abuse and Clergy Abuse, Child Injuries

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$8.2 Million Settlement -Ladder Causes Fall Resulting In Brain Injury

$8.2 million settlement for construction foreman who fell 40 feet from an extension ladder at the Lockheed Missiles and Space building in Sunnyvale, California when the ladder failed due to a defectively designed locking mechanism.

Brain and Head Injuries, Construction Accidents, Product Liability

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$6,501,684 Jury Verdict - Big Rig Truck Driver Negligently Stops In Freeway

$6.5 million jury verdict in Stockton, California for a traumatic brain injury to a 21 year old woman and for the death of her mother in an accident caused by a big rig truck driver who stopped his truck in the traffic lane on Interstate 5 near Bakersfield, California without putting out flares or turning on flashing lights. He moved his big rig truck to the shoulder before the CHP arrived, put out flares and the officer said the mother caused the accident.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$6,445,000 Settlement – County Social Worker Fails to Stop Child Abuse

$6,445,000 Settlement – An Alameda County Social Services worker did not make the legally required monthly visits to monitor the well being of a baby taken from his mother by the County and failed to discover and prevent abuse to the baby by its presumed father. The case went to trial and resulted in payment of settlement benefits in the about $6,445,000 in 2009.

Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries, City County and State Liability

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$6,375,360 Payout to Child Injured in a Collision with a Big Rig Truck

Our 5 year old client was riding in the back seat of a car being driven by his mother in Oakland, CA. The defendant truck driver blocked the roadway while making a left turn at an intersection. The insurance company lawyers for the truck driver and trailer owners blamed the mother for her child's injuries for speeding, inattention and for not placing her child in a car seat. We proved the collision was caused by the negligence of the truck driver.

Auto Accidents, Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries

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$6 Million Settlement - Protective Scaffolding Removed Causing Fall

$6 million settlement for a construction worker partially paralyzed when he fell 40 feet from a roof after safety scaffolding was removed from a building under construction in San Leandro, California.

Construction Accidents, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$6 Million Settlement – Traumatic Brain Injuries caused by Dangerous Road

$6 million settlement benefits for two minor children who received traumatic brain injuries in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. Recovery was against the City of Stockton for not maintaining the centerline on a curve that prevented the children's father from avoiding a collision.

Auto Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Drunk Driving Accidents

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$5,535,000 settlement – Fatigued Big Rig Truck Driver Blocks Dangerous Intersection

$5,535,000 settlement -A big rig truck driver who had driven across the U.S. without taking the legally required rest and sleep breaks, pulled out from a stop sign in front of a vehicle carrying three cement workers going to work in the early morning in Tracy, CA, causing a collision resulting in a death and a severe traumatic brain injury.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Wrongful Death

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$5.3 Million Settlement - Failure To Warn Of Lane Reduction

$5.3 million settlement benefits for an 11 year old child who suffered a traumatic brain injury when a car made an unsafe lane change causing an accident. The City of Stockton created a dangerous condition by failing to warn of a lane drop requiring vehicles to merge unsafely.

Auto Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability

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$5.15 Million Settlement - Train Operator Failed To Look For Children On Train

$5.15 million settlement for a 13 year old boy who fell from a moving freight train car and the wheels ran over his legs, resulting in amputation. The fence around the train yard was open, allowing children in the adjacent school to play on the railroad tracks in Richmond, California.

Burn Injuries and Amputations, Bus Boat Train and Airplane Accidents, Child Injuries

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Confidential Settlement – Tire Tread Separation Causes Roof to Crush in Rollover

Confidential settlement against a tire manufacturing company after settling a tire defect case with the tire retailer and automotive manufacturer for $1,700,000. An Oakland man suffered paralyzing injuries when the roof of his car crushed after a tire separation caused a rollover.

Auto Accidents, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries, Product Liability

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Confidential Multi-Million Settlement–Death of an eight year old boy in a boating accident caused by submerged footing of a bridge support

A 8 year old boy was killed in a tragic boat accident in 2015 when the boat struck a hidden submerged footing around a support for a bridge in the San Joaquin river.

City County and State Liability, Bus Boat Train and Airplane Accidents, Wrongful Death

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5 Million Dollar Settlement when car travels off a dangerous road without guardrails

A 26-year-old man driving on a wet road at night lost control of his car in a curve and plunged down a steep embankment because there was no guardrail at the edge of the road above the embankment.

Paralysis and Spinal Injury, City County and State Liability, Auto Accidents

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$5 Million Settlement – Unsafe Left Turn by Big Rig Truck

$5 Million settlement benefits for a 12 year old boy who received a traumatic brain injury when a big rig truck suddenly made a left turn, causing a collision in Stockton, California. We overcame a flawed traffic collision investigation by the Stockton Police to achieve the award.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries

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$5 million – Negligently Performed Tubal Ligation

$5 million lifetime benefits from a settlement for the wrongful birth of a baby caused by a negligently performed tubal ligation. The parents could not afford the significant costs to care for their autistic baby.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries

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$4,304,534 Million Jury Trial Verdict - Police Motorcycle Defect

$4.3 million jury verdict in Stockton, California for a motorcycle CHP police officer severely burned when his motorcycle caught on fire after colliding with another motorcycle. Recovery was made against the manufacturer of the CHP motorcycle.

Bicycle and Motorcycle Accidents, Burn Injuries and Amputations, Product Liability

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$4,021,837 Settlement- 10 Year Old Girl Injured in Collision with Farm Tractor

$4,021,837 Settlement- In August 2010 a ten year old girl was a passenger in a car that attempted to pass a slow moving farming tractor pulling a water trailer when the tractor suddenly turned left and blocked the road causing a collision. The child received severe internal injuries.

Auto Accidents, Child Injuries, Farm and Agricultural Accidents

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$4 Million Settlement - Tree Branches Obscure Driver's Vision

$4 million settlement at trial in Merced, California for a traumatic brain injury to a 3 year old child hit by a car on a road where tree branches blocked the drivers' vision. Recovery was against the County of Merced and the property owners.

Auto Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Premises Liability- Slip & Fall - Dog Attacks

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$3.9 Million Trial Settlement – Failure to Install Guardrail causes Paralysis when Roof Crushes

$3.9 million settlement at trial in Oakland, California for injuries to a woman who became paralyzed when her pickup truck went off an Alameda County road that had no guardrail and the roof of her vehicle crushed over her head. Recovery was for a dangerous road and defective roof on a Ford pickup truck.

Auto Accidents, Auto and Truck Defects, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$3,800,000 - Undue Influence Disinherits Children

$3.8 million paid to two brothers disinherited by their stepfather who gave the entire estate to charity as a result of undue influence by a relative in Santa Barbara, California.

Elder Abuse - Nursing Home Neglect, Will and Trust Contests - Undue Influence

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$3.6 million -Fire Truck Crashes Into Store

$3.6 million settlement for death of a woman killed when an Oakland Fire truck crashed into her store after colliding with another vehicle at an intersection. The intersection was dangerous and the design of the fire truck made it difficult for a fireman to apply the brakes while wearing boots.

Auto and Truck Defects, City County and State Liability, Wrongful Death

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$3.5 Million Judgment at Trial - Big Rig Truck Crashes Into Van in Arizona

$3.5 million judgment at trial for an 11 year old girl for the death of her mother and for brain injuries received in a collision with a "big rig" tractor trailer in Seligman, Arizona.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$3.5 Million Settlement - Defective Apartment Heater Asphyxiates Student

$3.5 million settlement for brain injury to a UC Berkeley college student who was asphyxiated by a defective apartment heater.

Brain and Head Injuries, Product Liability

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Confidential Settlement- Defective Axle Causes SUV Rollover

Confidential Settlement - Two College girls traveling in a SUV in Idaho were involved in a rollover accident and were ejected from the SUV. One girl suffered paralysis injuries and the other received a severe traumatic brain injury. We contended the rear axle of the vehicle broke as the SUV skidded and caused the rollover.

Auto and Truck Defects, Brain and Head Injuries, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$3.4 Million Settlement - Pedestrian Injury At Dangerous Intersection

$3.4 million settlement for 8 year old boy struck by a car at a dangerous intersection in Oakland, California. Recovery was against the City of Oakland for failure to install a traffic signal.

Brain and Head Injuries, Child Injuries, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Pedestrian Accidents

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$3,375,000 Settlement for Construction Worker

$3,375 million settlement for construction worker paralyzed in fall when framing contractor failed to install second story guardrail.

Construction Accidents, Product Liability, Paralysis and Spinal Injury

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$3,250,000 Settlement - Female Bicyclist Struck By Hit and Run Driver

$3,250,000 Settlement - A 24-year-old female bicyclist received a traumatic brain injury when struck by a hit and run driver on Route 9 in Saratoga, CA. The identity of the driver remained unknown for over nine months.

Bicycle and Motorcycle Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries

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$3.14 Million Settlement - Nasogastric Tube Enters Cranium

$3.14 million settlement to a single 42 year old man who suffered brain injuries when a nasogastric tube entered his brain due to medical negligence of a Kaiser physician.

Brain and Head Injuries, Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries

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$2,650,000 Settlement - Dangerous Road Causes Death of Female Jogger

$2,650,000 Settlement - The curve on a below standard rural road in Alameda County was in a dangerous condition due to the absence of a centerline, extremely narrow lanes and shoulder and no curve warning signs. A pick ups truck lost control on the curve and struck a mother jogging beside the road causing her death.

City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Pedestrian Accidents, Wrongful Death

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$2.5 Million Settlement - No Reflective Markings on Big Rig Truck at Dangerous Intersection

$2.5 million settlement against a Big Rig Truck Driver who blocked a Tracy, CA intersection at night while making a left turn. There were no retro-reflective markings on the trailer and several of the running lights were not operable. Two defense Depot workers were killed when their car went under the trailer. The City of Tracy and San Joaquin County also contributed to the settlement for maintaining a dangerous intersection.

Big Rig Truck Accident, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Wrongful Death

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$2.5 Million - Fatigued Farm Worker Causes Collision

$2.5 million settlement for death of a 7 year old girl and injuries to her sisters and mother when their family car collided with a grape harvesting vehicle on a public road near Valley Springs, California.

Auto Accidents, Child Injuries, Farm and Agricultural Accidents, Wrongful Death

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Confidential Settlement- Rollover Caused by Absence of Electronic Stability Control

Confidential settlement for an Oakland woman who received paralyzing injuries when the car in which she was a passenger went out of control and rolled over on a New Mexico highway because the manufacturer did not install electronic stability control in the vehicle.

Brain and Head Injuries, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$2,150,000 Settlement – Big Rig Causes Passenger Van to Overturn

$2,150,000 settlement for a 19 year old laborer injured in a collision with a big rig truck on a rural road in Colorado. The van rolled over crushing the roof over the head of the laborer resulting in quadriplegia.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries, Product Liability

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$2,050,000 Settlement - Construction Worker's Ankle Crushed when Run Over By Dump Truck

$2,050,000 Settlement - A roadway laborer paving Highway 1 in Mendocino County had to have his leg amputated when his ankle was run over by a dump truck. The CHP blamed the worker for stepping in front of the truck. We proved the crush injury was caused by the negligence of the dump truck.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Burn Injuries and Amputations, Construction Accidents

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$ 2 Million Settlement - Cal Trans Maintenance Truck Causes Freeway Collision

Collision

$ 2 million settlement for injuries to two teenage boys traveling in a car on Highway 4 near Antioch, California, that collided with a CalTrans truck that negligently entered the freeway from the median.

Auto Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries, City County and State Liability

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Confidential Settlement- SUV Rollover Causes Roof Crush

Confidential settlement for a Fremont man severely injured in a SUV rollover accident on Highway 99 when the roof crushed over his head causing paralysis.

Auto and Truck Defects, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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Confidential Settlement - Freight Train Strikes Pedestrian

Confidential settlement for an Oakland man who was hit by a freight train near the Oakland Coliseum resulting in amputation of both legs.

Burn Injuries and Amputations, Bus Boat Train and Airplane Accidents

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$1.7 Million - Sister Cuts Brother Out Of Estate

$1.7 million to brother who had been cut out of his mother's estate by his half-sister who used undue influence to exclude him.

Will and Trust Contests - Undue Influence

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$1,650,000 Settlement - Truck Plunges Off Bay Bridge at "S" Curve

$1,650,000 settlement. During the construction of the new Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge, a temporary by pass consisting of two sharp curves known as the "S" curve was constructed near the tunnel on Yerba Buena Island. On November 9, 2009 at 3:30 a.m. a tractor-trailer

Big Rig Truck Accident, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Wrongful Death

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Confidential Settlement- Tractor Brakes Fail

Confidential Settlement for the family of a Napa County farm worker who was killed on the Oakdale grade when his tractor could not brake to a stop on the steep hill.

Auto Accidents, Farm and Agricultural Accidents, Wrongful Death

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$1.5 Million Settlement - Private Airplane Crashes In Berkeley Hills

$1.5 million settlement in aviation accident in the Berkeley, California hills when a pilot was killed in a crash of a Cessna 310 due to electrical malfunction.

Bus Boat Train and Airplane Accidents, Wrongful Death

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Confidential Settlement - Patient Dies When ET Tube Removed

Confidential settlement - Difficult intubation results in death after extubation- Difficult intubation results in death after extubation. A hospital CEO died after a successful coronary artery bypass surgery when multiple attempts at intubation caused trauma to his throat which blocked off his airway when the ET tubes were removed after surgery.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$1.45 Million Settlement - Life Insurance Fraud

$1.45 million settlement for fraudulent sales practices by a life insurance company converting whole life insurance policies to speculative investments that the policy owner could not afford to pay.

Fraud and Bad Faith

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Confidential Settlement - SUV Rollover Roof Crush in Desert

Confidential settlement for a Castro Valley man against an auto manufacturer for a defective roof that crushed causing paralyzing injuries in an SUV rollover accident on a highway in the Mojave Desert.

Auto and Truck Defects, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$1.43 Million Settlement - Misdiagnosis of Heart Complaints Results In Death

$1.43 million settlement for wrongful death of a 42 year old father of two minor children who died of an acute myocardial infarction following a misdiagnosis by physicians at Kaiser Hospital.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$1.4 million settlement - National Guardsman Runs Stop Sign

$1.4 million settlement for Livermore man who received a traumatic brain injury in a night time collision with a National Guardsman who ran a stop sign on a country road near Pittsburg, California.

Auto Accidents, Brain and Head Injuries, City County and State Liability

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$1,320,000 Settlement- Construction Worker Injured When Structure Suddenly Collapses

$1,320,000 Settlement- During the demolition of a massive structure at the Hunter's Point PG&E Facility, the structure suddenly collapsed before the take down was scheduled and fell onto construction workers.

Construction Accidents

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$1.18 Million Jury Verdict - Parents Liable For Drunk Driving Adult Son

$1.18 million jury verdict in Hayward, California for death of father of two children caused by a drunk driver driving recklessly at high speed causing a collision. An adult child received wine from his parents and had a .12 blood alcohol level. This was the first case in the U.S. that found the parents of an adult child liable for his negligence.

Auto Accidents, Drunk Driving Accidents, Wrongful Death

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$1.16 Million Settlement - Failure To Hospitalize Patient With Pneumonia

$1.16 million settlement for failure of a Kaiser Hospital physician to hospitalize our client who had pneumonia resulting in his death at home the next day.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$1.1 Million Settlement - Dangerous Levee Road

$1.1 million settlement for death of an Oakland, California restaurant owner who was killed when an Oakland Raiders football star player drove a Porsche off the Brannan Island levee road in the Sacramento River delta at a dangerous curve without a guardrail.

Auto Accidents, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Wrongful Death

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$1.1 Million Settlement – Improper Tail Lights on Farm Tractor at Night Causes Death

$1.1 million settlement for the death of a Patterson man killed in a nighttime head on collision with another vehicle that swerved to avoid striking a slow moving farm tractor with improper tail lights.

Auto Accidents, Farm and Agricultural Accidents, Wrongful Death

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Confidential Settlement - Farm Worker Burned By Downed Power Line

Confidential Settlement - A 17 year old farm worker suffered second and third degree burns when he came in contact with a downed power line in the field. The landowner failed to turn off the power to the downed line.

Burn Injuries and Amputations, Farm and Agricultural Accidents

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$1.075 Million Settlement - Police Use Citizen to Investigate a Crime Causing Brain Injury

$1,075,000 Settlement - A Fremont Police officer sent a citizen to the roof of the building to investigate a burglary entry point and in the process he fell through a skylight resulting in a severe traumatic brain injury.

Brain and Head Injuries, City County and State Liability, Product Liability

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Confidential Settlement – Negligent Change In Blood Thinning Medication

Confidential settlement - A 27 year old woman suffered a heart attack due to negligent management of her medication by her Kaiser physicians.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries

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$1 Million Settlement–Failure to Maintain Apartment Smoke Alarms

$1 million settlement–Landlord fails to install, test and maintain smoke alarms in San Francisco rented apartment, resulting in death of father and daughter.

Wrongful Death

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$1,000,000 Settlement - Tractor-Trailer Blocks Highway at Night Causing Death

$1,000,000 settlement for heirs of a Stockton Public Works Department employee killed in a collision with a big rig tractor-trailer that blocked the Highway while attempting to back into a narrow driveway in the dark.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Wrongful Death

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$1 Million Settlement - Firestone Tire Tread Separates

$1 million settlement for woman who received serious injuries when a Firestone tire separated on a vehicle causing it to cross through a median and collide with the car in which she was a passenger on Highway 4 near Pinole, California.

Auto Accidents, Auto and Truck Defects, Paralysis - Spinal Injuries

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$1 Million Settlement - Big Rig Driver Causes Death In Fog In Central Valley

$1 million settlement - We represented the out of state parents of a 33 year old man who died as a result of a collision with a big rig truck in Lathrop, California in San Joaquin County.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Wrongful Death

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$950,000 Settlement - Big Rig Truck Runs Red Light Causing Intersection Collision

$950,000 settlement for 29 year old laborer injured in an intersection collision in Oakland, CA, when a big rig tractor pulling a trailer with a container ran the red light.

Auto Accidents, Big Rig Truck Accident

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$900,000 Settlement – Speeding Big Rig Truck Causes Multi-Vehicle Accident

$900,000 Settlement – Speeding Big Rig Truck Causes Multi-Vehicle Accident A speeding Big Rig Truck driving in rush hour on Interstate 880 in Oakland, caused multiple collisions.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Bus Boat Train and Airplane Accidents

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$889,061 Judgment—Misplaced Pacemaker Wire Led To Complications

$889,061 judgment at arbitration against Kaiser Hospital for failure of a radiologist to report findings of malpositioned pacemaker in the heart of our client requiring high risk open heart surgery several years later.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries

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$775,000 Settlement - Construction Worker Dies from Fall From Scaffold

$775,000 settlement for wrongful death of construction worker who fell from scaffolding without railings under a bridge when there were no safety nets.

Construction Accidents, Wrongful Death

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$700,000 Settlement– Big Rig Truck Driver Blocks Highway In Dense Fog Causing Death

$700,000 settlement for the death of a 29 year old man for a collision with a negligent big rig truck driver in the fog on Highway 4 near Stockton, California.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Child Injuries, Wrongful Death

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Confidential Settlement – Bad Faith Denial of Insurance

Confidential settlement - The bad faith failure to pay a policy holder for an accident with an underinsured motorist resulted in a recovery of all damages suffered by policy holder.

Auto Accidents, Fraud and Bad Faith

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$650,000 Jury Award – Insurance Bad Faith

$650,000 Jury award for injuries caused when a residential rental home balcony railing gave way causing a man to fall to the ground in San Francisco, California. Recovery was against Farmers Insurance for a bad faith refusal to provide Liability Insurance Coverage to the homeowner.

Fraud and Bad Faith, Premises Liability- Slip & Fall - Dog Attacks

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$650,000 Settlement - Worker Burned In Excavation

$650,000 settlement during trial for burn injuries suffered by an excavating contractor who put out flames on a co-worker at the bottom of a pit.

Burn Injuries and Amputations, Construction Accidents

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$630,000 Settlement - Negligent Discharge from Plastic Surgery Center

$630,000 settlement for negligent "tummy tuck" plastic surgery resulting in death of a 55 year old woman in Bay Area.

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$605,000 Settlement - Pedestrian Hit By truck Making Right Turn

$605,000 for a 14 year old boy hit by a delivery truck when crossing the street in the crosswalk in Berkeley, California.

Child Injuries, Pedestrian Accidents

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$605,000 Settlement - Fatigued Big Rig Truck Driver Causes Death

$605,000 settlement against a fatigued Big Rig truck driver for Werner Trucking. We represented the adult children of a retired senior citizen killed in the collision with the big rig in the state of Nevada.

Big Rig Truck Accident, Wrongful Death

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$505,000 Settlement- Design Defect On Maintenance Platform

$505,000 settlement for an electrical contractor who fell from a raised platform on a forklift due to a defect in the forklift and a failure to warn.

Industrial Accidents and Explosions, Product Liability

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$500,000 Settlement- Dangerous Curve Causes Death of Student

$500,000 Settlement – A sharp downhill curve with no banking caused the death of a 21 year old college student when his car crashed into a tree. There were many accidents at the curve and it was know as "crash curve".

Auto Accidents, City County and State Liability, Dangerous Roads and Government Liability, Wrongful Death

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$500,000 Settlement - Incorrectly Placed Catheter

$500,000 Medical Malpractice settlement for death of a woman due to incorrectly placed catheter by her physician. The physician, hospital and catheter manufacturer contributed to the settlement

Medical Malpractice-Kaiser Malpractice-Birth Injuries, Wrongful Death

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$450,000 Settlement - Runaway Horse on Road Causes Car Driver's Death

$450,000 Settlement – The investigating police officer claimed a Lodi golf course worker driving to work in the dark was the cause of a collision with a runaway horse on a rural road. We proved the officer's opinion was wrong and the death of the driver was caused by the property owner's failure to repair the fence and keep the horse from going on the road.

Auto Accidents, Farm and Agricultural Accidents, Wrongful Death

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$400,000 Trial Settlement – Cal Trans Tow Truck Pushes Car off Bridge

$400,000 trial settlement against the State of California for an Oakland woman for personal injuries received in a crash when the brakes on her stalled car failed on a downramp after being negligently pushed by a CalTrans tow truck off the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

Auto Accidents, City County and State Liability

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$367,500 Settlement – Negligent Cement Truck Operation

$367,500 Settlement for a construction worker injured when pressure built up in a concrete hose due to blockage causing the end to strike the cement worker.

Construction Accidents

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$225,000 Settlement—Dog Attack Causes Fall

A large dog kept in a construction company yard charged our 66 year old client, causing him to fall and fracture his hip while trying to escape.

Premises Liability- Slip & Fall - Dog Attacks

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$175,000 Settlement for Mailman Attacked by a Dog on the Street

$175,000 settlement for a mailman that was attacked and injured by a dog while he was delivering mail.

Premises Liability- Slip & Fall - Dog Attacks

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$101,166 Trial Verdict for Teacher Bitten by a Dog

$101,166 was awarded at trial for a rollerblading school teacher that was bitten by a German Shepard dog.

Premises Liability- Slip & Fall - Dog Attacks

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$325,000 Settlement plus full workers compensation benefits - Electrical Shock

$325,000 Settlement and payment of full workers compensation benefits including lifetime medical expenses for a 52 year old UC Berkeley Maintenance worker receives electrical shock of 480 volts of electricity while inspecting rooftop water proofing.

Construction Accidents, Industrial Accidents and Explosions

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Fall from construction site scaffold results in $1,020,000 settlement plus full workers compensation

A guardrail on a construction site scaffold was improperly secured and caused a 22 year old construction worker to fall three stories landing on his face and head. The scaffold company and general contractor paid the settlement to resolve the traumatic brain injury case. The worker also will receive full lifetime worker compensation benefits.

Brain and Head Injuries, Construction Accidents

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$1,265,000 for farm worker required to operate defective equipment

A farm worker was provided a trailer with no rear lights and was required to drive in the dark on a public road near Manteca, CA. A car rear-ended the trailer and tractor causing brain injury to the farm worker.

Auto and Truck Defects, Brain and Head Injuries, Farm and Agricultural Accidents, Product Liability

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OVER $500,000 SETTLEMENT FOR FURNISHING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO AN UNDERAGE DRUNK DRIVER

Wrongful death of a man killed by an underage drunk driver who was furnished alcoholic beverages by an adult at his residence.

Auto Accidents, Drunk Driving Accidents, Wrongful Death

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