Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

In a major California labor dispute, furniture retailer La-Z-Boy and its subsidiary LZB Retail, Inc. reached a $1.07 million class action settlement with former and current hourly employees. The lawsuit, led by Plaintiff Dustin Evers and filed in the San Diego Superior Court, accused the company of failing to pay workers for all hours worked and not providing required meal and rest breaks. The settlement, approved in September 2024, provided compensation to hundreds of employees for unpaid wages, penalties, and attorneys’ fees, closing a two-year battle over alleged wage and hour violations.

In a major employment class action, two former employees, Mario Arredondo Jr. and Miguel Rivera, sued Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations Inc. for systematic wage and hour violations. The lawsuit, filed in the San Diego Superior Court, claimed that the international security firm failed to pay hourly staff correctly, denied proper breaks, and issued inaccurate pay stubs. After extensive litigation, the parties reached a $1.35 million settlement in February 2025. The agreement, approved by Judge Gregory W. Pollack, provided compensation to approximately 85 employees for unpaid wages and penalties, concluding a significant California labor law dispute.

In a notable California class action, Robert Estrada led a lawsuit against TRC Companies, Inc., and TRC Companies, LLC, claiming widespread violations of state labor laws. The suit accused the national engineering firm of underpaying hourly employees, denying proper meal and rest breaks, and issuing inaccurate pay stubs. Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the case culminated in a $2.2 million settlement approved by the court. The resolution provided direct relief to hundreds of affected employees and marked a significant labor compliance reckoning for TRC Companies.

A Los Angeles County jury awarded $1,183,163.44 to plaintiff Vincent Carlos Hamlin after finding 562 Express Inc. and its driver, Andrew Eleazar Menendez, negligent in a commercial truck collision. Hamlin’s lawsuit, filed in September 2024, alleged that Menendez operated the company vehicle carelessly, violating California traffic laws. The jury found the Defendants 100% responsible for the crash and rejected claims of comparative fault. The damages covered past and future medical costs, lost wages, and long-term pain and suffering. Judge Michael P. Vicencia entered final judgment on October 23, 2025, affirming the verdict and ordering the Defendants to pay the full amount plus interest and costs.

In a high-profile federal case, music producer Leland T. Wayne, known as Metro Boomin, prevailed against civil sexual battery allegations filed by Vanessa LeMaistre. The case, heard in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, centered on claims that Wayne acted inappropriately during a professional meeting. LeMaistre sought economic, non-economic, and punitive damages for alleged emotional distress and reputational harm. After a multi-day trial before Judge R. Gary Klausner, the jury found no liability on all counts, concluding that the Plaintiff’s evidence did not meet the standard required for civil sexual battery. Judgment was entered on October 24, 2025, declaring Wayne the prevailing party entitled to recover court costs.

The County of Riverside and Riverside University Health System-Medical Center agreed to pay $2,250,000 to settle a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by Lovell Avery. The case, filed in July 2023, alleged that negligent medical treatment and breaches in professional care standards caused Avery’s lasting physical and emotional injuries. The complaint named the County and several physicians as defendants. Both sides engaged in discovery before reaching an out-of-court settlement that avoided a jury trial. The agreement brought closure to a complex dispute over the standard of care in a county-run hospital.

The City of San Diego reached a $4,000,000 settlement to resolve a personal injury lawsuit filed by resident Michael Fox. Filed in March 2023 in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, the case alleged that the city’s negligence in maintaining public property caused severe and lasting injuries. Fox’s complaint centered on a dangerous condition of public property, claiming that the city knew or should have known about the hazard but failed to take action. His attorneys argued that this inaction violated California’s Government Code duties for public safety. The city denied all allegations and asserted governmental immunity, maintaining that no such dangerous condition existed and that other factors may have caused the injury. Before the case reached trial, both sides agreed to settle. The $4 million settlement closed the dispute, marking another high-value resolution involving municipal liability in California.

A major negligence lawsuit involving the Los Alamitos Unified School District concluded with a $15,045,000 settlement before reaching trial. The case, Allison Balos vs. Los Alamitos Unified School District and Bharathiraja Natarajan, was filed in June 2022 in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, on behalf of a minor represented by her Guardian ad Litem. The lawsuit alleged that the School District and a staff member failed to exercise reasonable care, resulting in serious physical and psychological harm to the young Plaintiff, including PTSD and lasting emotional trauma. The defense denied all claims, asserting that the incident was beyond their control. Before a jury could render a verdict, both sides reached a comprehensive agreement. On March 19, 2025, a formal Notice of Settlement was filed, closing the case and marking one of the largest school-related negligence settlements in recent Orange County history.

In a Fresno County courtroom, justice was delivered for a young child injured under daycare supervision. The case, Norman Martin III vs. Charlene Burch and Wee Town Learning Center, centered on claims of negligence and violations of California’s childcare safety standards. The jury determined that both the daycare and employee Charlene Burch failed to provide proper supervision, directly causing the child’s injuries. After hearing extensive testimony, the jury awarded $970,874.79 in total damages covering medical expenses, future care, and significant compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress. This verdict underscores California juries’ increasing scrutiny of childcare providers and their adherence to statutory safety requirements meant to protect vulnerable children in their care.

A Broward County jury delivered a powerful verdict against Johnson & Johnson, finding its talc-based powders caused the fatal cancer of Dr. Alberto A. Casaretto Sr., a respected Fort Lauderdale nephrologist. The jury awarded $20 million in compensatory damages to his estate, holding the company accountable for asbestos contamination in its consumer products. The Casaretto family’s legal team argued that Johnson & Johnson concealed the dangers of asbestos in its talc for decades, prioritizing profits over safety. The verdict stands as a landmark in Florida’s ongoing talc litigation, reinforcing corporate accountability for hidden product risks.

The family of a deceased Los Angeles man reached a $250,000 settlement with the City of Los Angeles Fire Department over claims of negligent emergency medical care. The wrongful death lawsuit accused two LAFD EMTs of failing to provide the standard of care required under California law, leading to the patient’s death. Filed in 2021, the case alleged professional negligence and loss of companionship. Before trial, the City approved the settlement to resolve all claims without admitting liability. The agreement brought closure to a grieving family’s pursuit of accountability while protecting the City from prolonged litigation.

In a Broward County courtroom, a routine slip-and-fall case turned into a lesson in shared responsibility. Algene Edwards sued Westgate Plaza, Inc. for negligence after tripping on a damaged sidewalk in Fort Lauderdale. Edwards alleged the property owner ignored a known hazard, while Westgate argued the danger was obvious and avoidable. The jury agreed both sides shared blame—assigning 75% fault to Edwards and 25% to Westgate Plaza. Though total damages reached $741,276.57, Edwards’s recovery was sharply reduced under Florida’s comparative negligence rule. The verdict underscored the delicate balance between property maintenance and personal caution.