Wrongful Death

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
Date of Arbitration Award : Monday, March 29, 2021
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Negligence, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Bicycle Accident, Dangerous Condition Public Property, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Products Liability, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Dangerous Condition Public Property, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Negligence, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Vehicles - vs. Pedestrian, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Wrongful Death

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
Type of Case: Vehicles - Tractor Trailers, Wrongful Death

Motorcyclist killed by city truck at intersection. $7M. Los Angeles County.

Motorcyclist dies when he collides with City of Covina truck. Plaintiff had lowered pre-trial demand to $1 million after CCP 998.

Case Name: Laura Asencio v. City of Covina, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, October 29, 2018
Type of Case: Vehicles - Intersection, Vehicles - Motorcycle , Wrongful Death

Police shooting results in wrongful death claim. Defense. Santa Clara County.

Police shoot a murder suspect, believing him to be armed.

Case Name: Jacquez v. City of San Jose, Jacob Morris
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, September 10, 2018
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Police Shooting, Wrongful Death