Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

On a summer afternoon in August 2019, 15-year-old Roberto Diaz Garcia attempted to cross the street near the intersection of Maple Avenue and East 37th Street in Los Angeles. As the teenager stepped into the crosswalk area, a vehicle struck him with significant force, resulting in life-altering injuries. The legal action alleged that the City of Los Angeles maintained a "trap" for pedestrians due to poor visibility and inadequate safety measures. The collision left the young Plaintiff with devastating trauma, including permanent orthopedic injuries and third-degree burns. After extensive litigation regarding the city’s failure to implement traffic-calming measures, the parties reached a $1,500,000 settlement to cover the minor’s lifelong medical care and lost earning capacity.

In a major crackdown on the "next generation" of nicotine addiction, the City and County of San Francisco successfully sued several prominent tobacco distributors, including Rogue Holdings and Lucy Goods, Inc. The lawsuit alleged that these companies bypassed local health laws by shipping flavored nicotine pouches—products frequently marketed toward youth—directly to San Francisco doorsteps. City Attorney David Chiu argued that the companies violated the city’s strict ban on flavored tobacco and engaged in unlawful business practices. The litigation highlighted the health risks posed to minors by "discreet" nicotine products available in candy-like flavors. To resolve the claims, the defendants agreed to a $3,000,000 settlement and a permanent injunction barring future illegal sales in the city.

Theodore Franzone was walking near the 16th fairway at the Lincoln Park Golf Course when a utility box cover flipped up, causing his leg to fall into the hole. The accident resulted in a chipped right patella and a torn tendon that required surgical repair. Franzone sued the City and County of San Francisco, alleging the municipal government failed to secure the cover, creating a dangerous condition on public property. While the City denied all allegations and argued that the risk was trivial or caused by Franzone’s own negligence, the parties ultimately resolved the dispute with a $75,000 settlement.

In Carlos Miramontes v. Green Wall Tech, Inc., a former hourly employee filed a representative action in Alameda County Superior Court alleging systemic violations of the California Labor Code. The lawsuit claimed that Green Wall Tech forced employees to perform off-the-clock work, including mandatory pre-shift COVID-19 screenings and health questionnaires, without compensation. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleged that the company failed to provide duty-free meal and rest periods or pay the required premium wages for interrupted breaks. Despite a formal answer denying all allegations and asserting various immunities , the defendants agreed to a $1,500,000 settlement to resolve the claims and statutory penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

In the matter of Ana Warrick v. Byelas, LLC and The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC, the Plaintiff alleged she sustained significant injuries, including a rotator cuff tear and hand fracture, after tripping on a "depressed" sidewalk seam outside a Westport, CT grocery store. Warrick argued the Defendants violated state building codes and ASTM standards for safe walking surfaces. However, the defense successfully argued that the Plaintiff failed to prove the existence of a specific dangerous condition. On January 8, 2025, a Fairfield District jury returned a verdict in favor of all Defendants, concluding that no actionable defect was present at the time of the incident.

In Gzim Kovacevic v. Pure Wafer, Inc., a non-exempt employee filed a representative action under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) alleging systemic labor violations at a Santa Clara County facility. The lawsuit claimed that Pure Wafer required staff to undergo mandatory, off-the-clock COVID-19 screenings before shifts without compensation. Additionally, the Plaintiff alleged that the company failed to provide duty-free meal and rest periods or pay the required premium wages for interrupted breaks. Following the filing of the complaint in the Superior Court of California, the parties resolved the matter through a settlement of $225,585, covering unpaid wages and statutory penalties for the aggrieved workforce.

On a December morning in 2022, Zoila Moran De Alfaro stepped into a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Sepulveda and Victory Boulevards, guided by a "walk" signal. Simultaneously, the traffic light for oncoming northbound traffic turned green, leading driver Gilberto Cabrera to strike Ms. De Alfaro at high speed. The collision caused a shoulder fracture, a rotator cuff tear, and a torn ACL. Investigations revealed a catastrophic malfunction in the traffic control system—essentially a "concealed trap"—that granted both the pedestrian and the driver the right of way at the same time. Facing allegations of maintaining a dangerous condition on public property, the City of Los Angeles and Caltrans reached a $1,000,000 settlement to compensate for the victim's permanent injuries and medical expenses.

This legal action emerged from a two-vehicle crash that took place on May 20, 2021, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Dorka Morales had been driving her car south on East Main Street when she encountered a city-owned street sweeper. According to the legal complaint, Luis Antonio Rodriguez had been operating an Elgin city sweeper in the same direction when he suddenly and without warning pulled out into the street, leading to a collision. The Plaintiffs alleged that Rodriguez failed to keep a proper lookout and neglected to give any signal before moving into the path of traffic. The defense argued that Morales was responsible, claiming she attempted to pass the street sweeper in a "no passing" zone while its caution lights were flashing. Following a trial in November 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Defendants, awarding no damages to the Plaintiffs.

This medical malpractice lawsuit arose from a series of clinical encounters beginning in October 2019. Alexander R. Sommers, a resident of North Haven, sought treatment for sudden visual impairments in his right eye, describing a shadow like an "eclipse" blocking his vision. The plaintiff alleged that healthcare providers at Yale New Haven Health and the Yale Eye Center failed to timely and accurately diagnose a retinal detachment, initially misidentifying the issue as a neurological condition. This delay allegedly led to permanent and disabling damage, including a severe MRSA infection following eventual surgery. The defense maintained that the medical team acted appropriately based on the clinical information available at the time. Following a trial in November 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants, finding no liability for the hospital or the individual physicians.

A Connecticut jury awarded Giya Perrin $10,057 after finding Alain Malimba fully responsible for a 2022 highway collision on Interstate 91 South in New Haven. The jury rejected the defense's contributory negligence argument and assigned 100% liability to the defendant for the early morning crash that left Perrin with spinal injuries.

On November 21, 2022, a significant motor vehicle collision occurred in Darien, Connecticut, when a vehicle operated by John Romanovsky and owned by Hood Services 24 LLC struck the rear of a vehicle driven by Extra Desther on Ledge Road. The impact resulted in Desther suffering from cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, persistent hand pain, and the aggravation of a pre-existing spinal condition. Represented by The Flood Law Firm, LLC, Desther argued that Romanovsky’s negligence—specifically failing to maintain a proper lookout and following too closely—was the direct cause of his permanent physical and mental suffering. While the defense admitted the collision occurred, they vigorously contested the extent of the injuries and the necessity of the claimed medical expenses. The trial concluded in the Superior Court of Fairfield at Bridgeport with a jury verdict totaling $488,958.89. This award included $35,563.89 in past medical expenses, $133,107.00 for future medical care, and $320,288.00 in noneconomic damages for pain and suffering. Notably, the jury meticulously reviewed medical provider bills, opting to award specific amounts to providers like Stamford Hospital and CARE Health & Wellness while declining others.

A Broward County jury ruled in favor of Barbara Corsale LLC in a breach of contract lawsuit against Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. The dispute arose from a June 2022 water damage incident at a Deerfield Beach condominium. While the insurer argued that the damage resulted from long-term seepage or faulty maintenance—both of which were excluded under the policy—the jury rejected these defenses. The verdict confirmed that the loss was a direct, covered event and that the homeowner had fully complied with all post-loss obligations. The Court ordered the insurer to pay the actual cash value of the damages, reinforcing homeowner protections against wrongful claim denials based on unsubstantiated policy exclusions.