Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

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.

Philip DiMartino, a resident of Ventura County, suffered life-altering injuries while walking in Los Angeles on March 23, 2021. As he traveled southbound on Gower Street near Melrose Avenue, he encountered a section of the sidewalk that had become dangerously uprooted by tree roots. The sudden change in elevation caused DiMartino to trip and fall violently, resulting in a fractured foot, a broken ankle, and significant trauma to his back and neck. DiMartino filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, alleging that the municipality failed to maintain the public walkway or warn pedestrians of the hazard. Seeking over $1,000,000 in damages for medical expenses and lost earnings, the case highlighted the legal responsibilities of government entities regarding infrastructure safety. After nearly three years of litigation, the parties reached a full settlement in May 2024.

In 22STCV24977, Stephanie Anushe Cortes v. City of Los Angeles, the plaintiff initiated legal action following a slip-and-fall incident on August 10, 2021, at a public facility. Cortes alleged that poorly maintained flooring, ramps, and entryways at 150 N. Los Angeles St. and 215 S. San Julian St. constituted a dangerous condition of public property. The litigation centered on whether the City had "constructive notice" of these defects and whether its failure to inspect and repair the premises led to Cortes’s severe physical injuries and subsequent medical expenses. While the City argued that the conditions were "open and obvious" and invoked government immunities, the parties ultimately reached an unconditional settlement on February 2, 2024. The resolution, overseen by Judge Lynne M. Hobbs in the Los Angeles Superior Court, concluded the matter shortly before trial, providing compensation for the plaintiff's pain, suffering, and economic losses.

In early 2022, Amir Medizadeh sued the City of Los Angeles, the County, and the State of California following a roadway incident near Fairfax Avenue. Medizadeh alleged that an unmarked speed bump constituted a dangerous condition on public property, causing him to slide and suffer significant physical injuries and mental distress. He sought damages for medical expenses, property damage, and loss of earnings. The government entities denied the claims, citing various immunities and arguing that the Plaintiff was responsible for his own safety. After more than two years of litigation and just before the scheduled trial, the parties reached a settlement in May 2024, leading to the conditional dismissal of the action.

In a significant resolution to a legal battle spanning nearly two decades, PHH Corporation and its subsidiaries reached a $29,494,500 settlement with a massive class of homeowners. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2008, alleged that PHH operated a "captive" reinsurance scheme through Atrium Insurance Corporation to solicit illegal kickbacks from mortgage insurers. Plaintiffs Efrain Munoz, Leona Lovette, and Stephanie Melani argued that these secret arrangements violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) by inflating costs for borrowers without providing actual insurance risk. Despite PHH’s long-standing defense that their practices were lawful, the court granted final approval of the settlement in December 2025, marking the end of one of the longest-running consumer finance disputes in the Eastern District of California.

A Miami-Dade County jury awarded California resident Cheryl Genovesi $1,503,174.48 in damages after she slipped and fell on greasy liquid outside Townhouse Hotel in Miami Beach. The October 2025 verdict placed full blame on the hotel, finding it 100% negligent for failing to maintain safe conditions on the adjacent public sidewalk where cooking oil leaked from service area trash receptacles.

A Broward County jury found Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company liable for breach of contract after the insurer failed to pay full benefits for water damage at a Sunrise, Florida home. The November 2025 verdict awarded homeowners Nadine and Stephen Casella $53,099.30 in total damages, resulting in a final judgment of $30,093.99 including prejudgment interest. The case centered on a disputed April 2023 weather-related water damage claim where the insurer initially paid only $18,470.88 for building repairs despite the homeowners' assertion that costs far exceeded that amount.

A Sacramento County jury returned a defense verdict in a disability access lawsuit brought by a 67-year-old health club member who claimed broken pool chair lifts denied her equal access to swimming facilities. While the jury found the Plaintiff proved she had a disability and that the facility was not readily accessible, they determined she was not denied full and equal enjoyment of the facility because of her disability.

A Miami-Dade jury held David T. Goldfarb liable for a 2022 collision where his Aston Martin DB9 struck Giovanni A. Rodriguez Osorio’s scooter. While the defense argued that Osorio was comparatively negligent and failed to wear a seatbelt, the jury found Goldfarb’s negligence was the legal cause of the crash. The Court entered a final judgment of $235,000 for past and future medical expenses, applying an 8.65% interest rate to the award.