Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

In a landmark employment retaliation case, Dr. Kristen Wheldon, a respected clinical psychologist, reached a $5.75 million settlement with the City of Los Angeles after alleging whistleblower retaliation and workplace discrimination. Dr. Wheldon claimed city officials punished her for reporting serious ethical and procedural violations, leading to her demotion, isolation, and emotional distress. Her lawsuit cited violations under California’s Labor Code Section 1102.5 and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The City denied wrongdoing but agreed to the multimillion-dollar settlement before trial, marking a major victory for employee whistleblower protections in the public sector.

A $1 million settlement ended a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Sade and Lorenzo Mitchell against UCI Medical Center after the death of their newborn son, Malachi. The parents alleged medical negligence during labor, claiming the hospital delayed critical interventions despite signs of distress. Malachi was delivered by emergency cesarean but died weeks later. The Regents of the University of California denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle, closing the emotional case without a trial.

The civil action Frank Valles vs. Terrence Andra Cross et al. stemmed from a serious 2018 collision in Los Angeles involving an LAPD patrol vehicle. Plaintiff Frank Valles, a passenger in the police car, alleged that Officer Terrence Cross executed an unsafe left turn into oncoming traffic, causing a violent impact and significant injuries. The lawsuit held the City of Los Angeles vicariously liable under California Vehicle Code §17001 and the doctrine of respondeat superior. After extensive litigation, discovery, and negotiations, the City agreed to a $7,250,000 settlement, resolving all claims of negligence, liability, and damages.

This Connecticut Superior Court case centered on a June 26, 2022 collision on East Main Street in Meriden. Kenneth Wallen was driving east when Teresa Loncrini made a left turn across his lane and struck his vehicle. Wallen claimed she failed to maintain control, keep a proper lookout, or yield the right of way. He alleged knee and spinal injuries and sought compensation for medical costs, pain, and work limitations. Loncrini denied negligence and argued Wallen contributed to the collision by failing to react or warn her. After hearing both sides, a Middlesex jury returned a verdict on October 23, 2025, finding Loncrini 100 percent at fault. The jury awarded Wallen $11,502.75 in economic damages and $4,000 in noneconomic damages, for a total of $15,502.75.

A Contra Costa County jury found Steven Rowsey negligent for a 2019 crash on the Bollinger Canyon Overpass that injured Adrian Leyva. After hearing evidence on medical treatment, pain, and the long-term impact of the collision, jurors awarded Leyva $409,200. The verdict reflected both economic losses and significant noneconomic harm tied to the freeway collision.

The long-running dispute between Pamela K. Hartnett and Charles and Mari Hardenbergh reached a decisive conclusion when a Virginia jury issued a split verdict on May 22, 2025. The jury rejected all of Hartnett’s assault, battery, emotional distress, defamation, and conspiracy claims. However, it found Charles Hardenbergh and his law firm liable for defamation, awarding Hartnett $200,000 in compensatory and $450,000 in punitive damages. Both Charles and Mari Hardenbergh were also found liable for trespass, resulting in additional punitive damages. The outcome shifted sharply when the jury considered the counterclaims. It determined that Hartnett maliciously prosecuted Mari Hardenbergh in connection with a December 2019 criminal complaint. Mari received $950,000 in compensatory and $50,000 in punitive damages. The jury cleared Hartnett on the remaining malicious prosecution counts. The verdict closed a contentious legal battle marked by conflicting narratives of violence, reputational harm, and retaliatory litigation.

In a decisive legal maneuver that ended the trial before the jury could deliberate, the Superior Court of Connecticut issued a Directed Verdict in the civil matter of Syed Sajid Hussain v. MSBF Corporation d/b/a MSBF, Inc., et al. The plaintiff, Syed Sajid Hussain, had pursued a lawsuit against the corporation and its principals, Babar Ali Khan, Sadia Hussain, and Syed Amir Hussain, claiming they had breached their agreements and engaged in financial misconduct. However, at the close of evidence on October 28, 2025, the court intervened, ruling that Mr. Hussain failed to present the necessary proof to support the majority of his claims. The judge formally directed the jury to find in favor of the defendants on a sweeping twenty-three counts, effectively dismissing the plaintiff’s core claims of contract breach, statutory theft, and fraudulent transfer.

American Freight Management Company LLC resolved a wage-and-hour class action in Sacramento Superior Court by agreeing to a $398,620 settlement that compensated employees for unpaid overtime, missed meal breaks, and inaccurate wage statements. The case involved managers and hourly workers who said the company failed to include nondiscretionary bonuses in overtime rates, routinely delayed meal periods, and issued pay stubs that did not show correct hours or earnings. After extensive discovery, mediation, and class certification, both sides settled before trial. The agreement brought closure to claims stretching back to 2018 and delivered financial relief to affected workers across the company’s California retail locations.

A Sacramento jury delivered a sweeping verdict for Dr. Beth Fischgrund, concluding that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation unlawfully retaliated against her after she reported workplace misconduct and safety issues. The jury found that Dr. Fischgrund’s protected whistleblower activity triggered a series of adverse employment actions, culminating in significant professional and personal harm. The panel also determined that CDCR defamed her during the conflict, further damaging her reputation and career prospects. After evaluating the evidence, the jury awarded a total of $13.88 million for lost earnings, future economic harm, emotional distress, and reputational damage. The case underscored the legal protections afforded to employees who report unsafe or improper governmental conduct in California.

The case centered on a 2019 rear-end collision involving an Orlando Police Department vehicle driven by Officer Christopher Moulton. Michael L. Hagans, the Plaintiff, said the officer failed to maintain a proper lookout and slammed into his Nissan on S. Westmoreland Drive. After years of litigation, a 2025 jury ruled that the officer’s negligence caused the crash and that the City was legally responsible under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine. Jurors awarded $77,000 for medical expenses and $150,000 for past pain and suffering after finding that Hagans suffered a permanent injury. The total award reached $227,000. The verdict closed the long-running dispute and confirmed that the crash left Hagans with lasting physical and emotional harm.

On March 8, 2019, Jorg Bober was rear-ended by a Dodge Ram 3500 driven by Scott D. Johnson of Pipeline Constructors while traveling on Interstate 295 in Jacksonville, Florida. Bober filed suit, alleging active negligence by Johnson and negligent hiring and supervision by Pipeline Constructors. The jury found Pipeline and Johnson liable, awarding Bober $43,000 for medical expenses, $40,000 for past pain and suffering, and $60,000 for future distress, totaling $143,000. The verdict recognized Bober’s injuries as significant and permanent, directly resulting from the crash.

In the Miami-Dade County civil action Harlan Dale Beck vs. Jose Alberto Martin Martinez et al., a jury awarded Plaintiff Harlan Dale Beck $246,000 for injuries sustained in a November 15, 2022 motor vehicle collision. The crash occurred when Martinez, a commercial driver for Big Red Auto Transport Corp., negligently struck Beck’s vehicle. Beck argued that the impact caused permanent injuries, chronic pain, and loss of life enjoyment, while the defense contested the severity and cited pre-existing conditions. After a four-day trial, the jury found both Martinez and his employer liable under negligence and vicarious liability principles. Although the medical expenses awarded were modest, the jury granted substantial damages for Beck’s past and future pain and suffering, validating claims of long-term physical and emotional harm. The verdict, delivered on February 20, 2025, concluded the litigation with a total award of $246,000.