Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

In a high-stakes product liability battle, a Connecticut jury returned a defense verdict for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) following a catastrophic collision that left a passenger paralyzed. The case stemmed from an April 2016 incident where a 2014 Hino box truck overturned on Route 8 in Waterbury, only to be struck moments later by a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer. Schley M. Hunter, who was trapped inside the overturned vehicle during the second impact, sustained traumatic spinal cord injuries resulting in permanent quadriplegia. The Plaintiffs argued that the Freightliner was defectively designed because it lacked autonomous emergency braking and collision-avoidance systems that could have detected the stationary truck in the darkness. They further alleged that the vehicle's headlight illumination was insufficient for highway speeds. However, the defense successfully contended that the truck met all federal safety standards and that the collision resulted from environmental factors and driver timing rather than mechanical or design failure. On December 17, 2025, the jury found in favor of the Defendant, awarding no damages to the Plaintiffs.

The legal dispute between David Michael Bailey and defendants Kayla Nicole Duncan and Duncan Mechanical Services, Inc. concluded on January 9, 2026, in Orange County, Florida. The case stemmed from a May 2021 collision where Bailey’s stopped vehicle was struck by a vehicle operated by Duncan and owned by the defendant corporation. Although Bailey alleged he suffered permanent physical impairment and chronic pain, the defense focused on the lack of long-term severity. After reviewing the evidence, the jury found the defendants liable for Bailey's immediate medical needs and awarded $80,000.00 for past medical expenses. However, the jury determined that Bailey did not sustain a permanent injury, which prevented any additional awards for future medical care or non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

The tragic death of Varnel Johnson Jr. serves as a harrowing reminder of the stakes involved in heavy machinery operation and site management. In August 2021, Johnson was operating a Caterpillar 725 water truck on a path constricted by culvert pipes and unstable soil. The collapse of the canal shoulder led to his vehicle submerging, resulting in his death by drowning due to a lack of emergency escape features in the truck's cabin. In a landmark decision reached on January 14, 2026, a Miami-Dade jury bypassed standard worker's compensation immunity by finding that the project superintendent’s actions constituted gross negligence. The case highlighted "serious" OSHA violations, including the failure to maintain safe travel paths, and scrutinized Caterpillar's equipment design regarding submersion safety and center-of-gravity stability.

In the matter of Brayan Yarini Villasante, et al. v. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, homeowners successfully challenged a claim denial involving their Pompano Beach property. The plaintiffs alleged that a windstorm on June 30, 2023, caused significant physical damage covered under their "all risk" policy. Despite an estimated repair cost of $79,343.00, Citizens Property Insurance refused to pay, citing several exclusions. The insurer's defense rested on the claim that the interior damage was the result of long-term wear and tear, age-related deterioration, and surface water seeping through foundation cracks rather than a storm-related opening. However, during the December 2025 trial, the jury found that the plaintiffs sufficiently proved the loss was caused by a windstorm. Crucially, the jury also ruled that the defendant failed to prove that flood or surface water was responsible for the interior damages, leading to a verdict in favor of the homeowners.

In December 2017, Susan Stokes, a resident at the Centre Walk Condominiums in Milford, Connecticut, sustained a fracture to her left wrist and a knee injury after slipping on a patch of water in the building’s communal laundry room. Stokes alleged that the condominium association had been negligent by failing to repair leaking machinery, ignoring drainage issues, and using dangerously slick paint on the concrete floor. The Association countered with a strong defense of contributory negligence, arguing that Stokes had failed to maintain a proper lookout and that the hazard should have been obvious. After years of litigation, a jury examined whether the Association had "constructive notice" of the leak. In January 2026, the jury delivered a verdict in favor of the defendant, finding the Association not liable for the incident.

On the night of October 14, 2021, James Douglas was driving his family southbound on I-95 in Stratford, Connecticut, when their vehicle collided with a car driven by Travis Henry. Douglas, along with passengers Alayshia Tedder and minor Jah’Layshia Douglas, filed suit in 2023, alleging that Henry had abruptly drifted into the center lane without warning. The plaintiffs sought damages for significant physical injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages. However, the defense argued that Douglas was actually the negligent party, citing excessive speed and a failure to maintain his own lane under prevailing weather conditions. After a full trial in the New Haven Superior Court, the jury returned a defense verdict in November 2025, finding no liability on the part of Henry or the vehicle owner, Christie Panton.

Denise A. Booth was participating in a golf league at Grassy Hill Country Club on July 7, 2020, when a routine round turned into a life-altering accident. After teeing off on the third hole, Booth drove her rented golf cart down a designated path that featured a dangerously steep downward slope. The vehicle suddenly skidded off the path, jumped an asphalt curb, and gained speed on the grassy embankment before slamming into a large boulder. The impact ejected Booth onto the asphalt, causing a "Bankart lesion" and multiple fractures in her left shoulder and right knee. While the country club argued that Booth ignored warning signs and drove too fast, the jury ultimately found the club's negligent course design largely responsible for the crash. After accounting for comparative negligence, the court awarded Booth $269,433.43 in net damages for her permanent physical impairments and extensive medical bills.

A California jury awarded $6 million in punitive damages to the family of James Doherty, a 72-year-old cancer patient who died after developing a severe infected pressure ulcer at Alameda Healthcare & Wellness Center. The verdict found the skilled nursing facility and its management company liable for neglecting basic care requirements, including failing to reposition the bedridden patient regularly. Staff missed up to 37% of required repositioning sessions despite knowing Doherty was at high risk for skin breakdown. His wound progressed from minor skin damage to a stage IV pressure ulcer that caused fatal sepsis.

Case Excerpt Lecia L. Shorter, a former pre-trial detainee at the Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF), filed a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and its Sheriff’s Department, alleging a "culture of egregious inmate abuse." Shorter opted out of a major class-action settlement to pursue individual claims regarding approximately 19 group strip searches she endured between 2010 and 2013. She described being forced to undergo visual body cavity inspections in a cold, public bus garage while male deputies watched. In one instance, Shorter spent twelve hours handcuffed in a holding cell wearing a "spit mask" without access to food or water. The county defended the searches as necessary security measures, but eventually agreed to a $99,999 settlement to resolve the civil rights and privacy violation claims.

In February 2023, Ignacio and Geneva Duran were traveling through an intersection in Arcadia, California, when their vehicle was violently struck by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department vehicle. The plaintiffs alleged that the driver, Anthony Trinh, had negligently entered the intersection against a red light while on duty. The high-impact collision resulted in significant physical injuries, mounting medical expenses, and loss of income for the couple. While the County initially denied liability and offered numerous affirmative defenses—including claims of government immunity and contributory negligence—the parties ultimately reached a resolution. The legal battle concluded in April 2025 when the County agreed to a $60,000 settlement to compensate the Durans for their pain, suffering, and financial losses.

In May 2022, Carlos Garcia Guerra was driving near the intersection of Palmdale Boulevard and 90th Street East in Littlerock when a vehicle owned by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works struck him. The county vehicle, operated by employee Jeffrey Wilson, allegedly failed to use reasonable care, resulting in a high-impact collision. Guerra filed a lawsuit in December 2022, citing significant physical injuries, property damage, and a loss of future earning capacity. While the County of Los Angeles presented over twenty legal defenses—including claims that Guerra was partially at fault—the parties moved toward a resolution before reaching trial. In April 2025, the legal teams finalized a $100,000 settlement to compensate Guerra for his medical expenses and the disruption to his life caused by the accident.

Telesia Telsee sought justice after a routine drive turned into a traumatic collision involving the San Francisco Police Department. On July 12, 2022, while Ms. Telsee attempted a lawful left turn into a driveway, Officer Robert Spencer Brown bypassed traffic by crossing into the oncoming lane without his emergency lights or sirens activated. The resulting impact totaled Ms. Telsee’s vehicle and caused severe injuries to her head, neck, and back. Although the city initially denied the claim for lack of information, the police department's own investigation found the officer at fault for speed and passing violations. To avoid a jury trial, the City and County of San Francisco agreed to a $125,000 settlement to cover medical expenses and pain and suffering.