Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

Dr. Deborah Higer, a veteran physician in Mount Shasta, filed a sweeping lawsuit against Dignity Health and fellow doctors David Holst and Ronald Lagro, alleging a two-decade campaign of discrimination. Dr. Higer, who is a lesbian, claimed the hospital environment became increasingly hostile after she reported a colleague’s alleged misconduct and advocated for patient safety. She argued that the hospital retaliated by stripping her of clinical privileges and removing her from pediatric call schedules, causing severe financial and emotional damage. However, upon reviewing the evidence, a San Francisco jury determined that while Dr. Higer did provide services under contract, she had not been subjected to harassing conduct based on her gender or sexual orientation. Consequently, the Court found no liability against the Defendants on the harassment claims.

On March 22, 2023, Luis Botet filed a lawsuit against Hugo Pedro Perez Raymundo and Jose Emmanuel Alvarado following a four-vehicle collision at State Road 821 and SW 120th Street in Miami-Dade County. Botet alleged that Raymundo’s negligent operation of a vehicle owned by Alvarado caused him permanent bodily injury, mental anguish, and significant medical expenses. The defense argued that Botet was comparatively negligent, failed to wear a seatbelt, and did not meet the permanent injury threshold required by Florida’s no-fault laws. After a multi-year legal battle, a jury returned a verdict on November 10, 2025, awarding Botet $130,735 for past medical expenses and $50,000 for pain and suffering, totaling $180,735 in damages.

An 81-year-old California woman won a substantial jury verdict against her own son and grandson in a financial elder abuse case involving a contested loan transaction. The San Bernardino County Superior Court jury found that Roy Scott Robb and Zachary Scott Robb wrongfully took their elderly mother and grandmother's property through fraud and undue influence. The case centered on a $200,000 loan arranged in 2018 to prevent foreclosure on property Awana Ring expected to inherit from her deceased daughter. The jury determined that while loan broker Richard Harmon assisted in the scheme with knowledge of the family members' wrongdoing, the primary perpetrators were Ring's own relatives. Roy Scott Robb was ordered to pay $731,000 in combined economic and non-economic damages, while his son Zachary was held liable for $31,000. Harmony Escrow, Inc. was completely exonerated, with the jury finding no evidence of their involvement in any wrongful conduct.

In a significant legal victory for the City and County of San Francisco, a Superior Court jury determined that a local intersection did not constitute a "dangerous condition of public property" following a serious collision involving an electric scooter. The plaintiff, Melinda Desiree Harris, alleged that the city’s negligent roadway design and poor maintenance led to her being struck by a vehicle in September 2021. Despite claims of inadequate lighting and improper traffic controls, the jury halted deliberations after finding no defect in the property, ultimately awarding no damages against the public entity.

When Benjamin Franklin Akaba purchased a new bed from City Furniture, he expected a safe addition to his home. Instead, a series of service failures turned his bedroom into a site of physical trauma. After a delivery team from JF Moving, LLC knowingly assembled the bed with missing screws, and a store manager later provided "guesswork" replacement hardware, the frame catastrophically collapsed while Mr. Akaba was inside it. The resulting fall caused permanent bodily injuries, leading a Miami-Dade jury to hold the companies accountable for their negligence. On December 9, 2025, the jury returned a verdict of $705,000, covering a lifetime of medical expenses and the profound loss of his quality of life.

On July 24, 2022, Labinot Gjini sat in his vehicle at a red light in Milford, Connecticut, when Rebecca Lerud’s car suddenly swerved into his lane. The resulting side-swipe collision caused Gjini to suffer from wrist and arm pain, while also significantly worsening old injuries in his neck and back. Although the defense questioned the extent of his injuries, a Fairfield jury held the defendant accountable for her failure to maintain a proper lookout and safe lane control. In January 2026, the court ordered a total payout of $22,225 to cover Gjini's medical bills and his physical suffering.

Alicia Kenworthy, a Medical Assistant at Franklin Medical Group, suffered from chronic, severe allergies and life-threatening asthma triggered by workplace fragrances. Despite providing medical documentation and personal supplies for a "fragrance-free" environment, Kenworthy experienced multiple anaphylactic reactions, leading to an emergency room visit. She alleged that her coworker continued using scented products and that management failed to intervene, ultimately terminating her employment due to absences caused by her condition. While the jury acknowledged her disability and the medical necessity of her requests, they weighed whether the company's disciplinary actions constituted a material breach of employment law.

In March 2024, Jessica P. Williams traveled along I-295 in Jacksonville when Brandon M. Cowart negligently operated his vehicle and struck her. Because Cowart lacked sufficient insurance to cover her extensive medical needs, Williams sought benefits from her own provider, Southern-Owners Insurance Company. The insurer initially denied liability and challenged the permanency of her injuries, suggesting her condition stemmed from pre-existing issues. Following a trial in February 2026, a jury determined Cowart’s negligence caused Williams' permanent injuries. They awarded her $56,676.13 for past medical expenses, $1,622,501.65 for future medical care, and $750,900 for pain and suffering, totaling a verdict of $2,430,077.78.

A Bridgeport jury delivered a split verdict in a premises liability dispute arising from a facial injury incident at a residential property. The plaintiff recovered damages from three defendants while the property owner escaped liability through a successful superseding cause defense.

On April 30, 2024, Cameca O. Williams was traveling as a passenger in a vehicle on the I-95 NB exit ramp to Emerson Street in Jacksonville, Florida. Scarlett R. Madison negligently collided with the rear of the vehicle, causing Williams to suffer bodily injuries. Williams filed suit seeking damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Madison defended the claim by suggesting comparative fault, including the possible failure of the plaintiff to wear a seatbelt and the actions of a third-party driver. Following a trial, the jury found Madison 100% negligent and awarded Williams $63,287.70 for past medical costs and $60,000.00 for future medical care. However, the jury determined that Williams did not sustain a permanent injury, which precluded any award for pain and suffering.

A Connecticut jury awarded Dennis Brayman $2.71 million after a rear-end collision on Main Street in Coventry left him with permanent injuries including a concussion, chronic pain, and hearing loss. The verdict against Main Street America Assurance Company covered underinsured motorist benefits after the at-fault driver's coverage proved insufficient.

Cecilia Cleveland v. City of Los Angeles involves a high-profile employment dispute within the LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics Division (GND). Cleveland, a veteran Latina detective with 33 years of unblemished service, alleged that the arrival of Captain Lillian Carranza in 2021 marked the beginning of a targeted campaign of "pencil whipping"—the practice of accumulating trivial disciplinary claims to undermine a career. The complaint detailed a hostile work environment where Cleveland was allegedly forced to move her desk into a K-9 scent room contaminated by animal waste and subjected to intense scrutiny over minor infractions. After facing her first negative performance review in three decades and losing her hazardous pay bonus, Cleveland sued for race, age, and gender discrimination, as well as whistleblower retaliation. The City maintained that its actions were based on legitimate departmental policy; however, the parties reached an unconditional settlement in June 2024.