Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

A Miami-Dade jury awarded Danielle M. Tirado $906,100.98 for injuries sustained when Publix employee Benedicto R. Alvarez’s truck caused falling branches to strike a motorcycle on which she was riding. The jury found Publix and Alvarez 35% at fault, with the remainder assigned to Miami-Dade County. Publix later satisfied its share of the judgment, closing a high-stakes negligence and vicarious liability case.

In March 2022, Arin Phillips visited the Costco-Kendall store in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for routine shopping. While walking through an aisle filled with household goods, her foot slipped on a wet spot on the floor. There were no cones, warning signs, or employees nearby to alert customers about the hazard. She fell hard, landing on her right hip and shoulder. Other shoppers hurried to help as store workers called for medical assistance. Paramedics arrived within minutes and transported Phillips to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed a fractured hip and shoulder injuries.Phillips later said that her life changed after the fall. The accident disrupted her daily routine, work, and physical well-being. What had begun as a normal afternoon of shopping turned into months of medical care and rehabilitation.Phillips claimed Costco was negligent in maintaining safe conditions for shoppers. She argued that employees failed to inspect the area or clean up the spill in

This case was filed in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and dealt with insurance contract law.  The Plaintiffs, Arthur T. Somano and Enriqueta Somano, sued People's Trust Insurance Company, alleging breach of a homeowner's insurance contract and related obligations.  The key legal issue was the Defendant's rejection and failure to appropriately cover losses resulting from a qualified property damage occurrence under an active insurance policy.The Plaintiffs owned residential property located at 16083 SW 63rd Terrace in Miami, Florida, which had been insured under a homeowner’s policy issued by People's Trust Insurance Company. On or about November 8, 2020, the property had sustained significant damage due to a covered peril. The Somano Plaintiffs had reported the loss to the insurance company on September 22, 2021. Upon notification, the insurer had initiated an investigation of the clai

The case arose from a collision between a bicyclist and a motorist on July 7, 2021, in Essex, Connecticut. Mark C. Diebolt, a competitive triathlete and official member of Team USA, had been riding his bicycle north on Route 154, approaching the intersection with South Cove Lane. The road descended sharply toward the intersection. South Cove Lane, connected to Route 154 from the east.As Diebolt approached the intersection, a GMC Yukon Denali driven by Keith B. Neilson moved forward from South Cove Lane into the roadway. Neilson had been looking to his right to check traffic, advancing past vegetation that obscured his view. Diebolt saw the SUV enter his path and braked hard, but he collided with the vehicle’s driver-side front corner. The force threw him over the handlebars, onto the windshield, and then to the pavement.Diebolt claimed the crash happened because Neilson had failed to yield the right of way and had moved into the main road without ensuring it was safe.

A Connecticut jury awarded $8,000,000.05 to John Gallagher, administrator of his late wife Maura’s estate, after finding Stamford Hospital and affiliated doctors negligent in her care. Maura, 38 and expecting twins, showed clear signs of preeclampsia before her May 2017 C-section. The lawsuit alleged delayed delivery, mismanaged symptoms, and failure to recognize a seizure led to a fatal brain hemorrhage. The jury concluded that systemic failures deprived her of a chance to survive and caused profound loss to her husband, newborn twins, and family.

A Delaware jury delivered a mixed verdict in Regeneron’s antitrust suit against Amgen over PCSK9 cholesterol drugs Praluent and Repatha. Regeneron accused Amgen of using exclusionary bundling tactics to block Praluent’s market access and preserve Repatha’s monopoly. The jury found Amgen liable on some claims but awarded little or no damages, siding with Amgen on key issues and significantly limiting Regeneron’s recovery. The decision underscores the challenges of proving financial harm in complex pharmaceutical antitrust disputes.

A Utah jury awarded $951 million to the Zancanella family after finding Steward Health Care and Jordan Valley Medical Center liable for negligent labor and delivery care in October 2019. The court ruled that systemic staffing failures, delayed Cesarean delivery, and poor fetal monitoring caused newborn Azaylee’s permanent brain damage. The record-breaking verdict included economic, non-economic, and punitive damages, highlighting hospital accountability for obstetric safety.

A Fresno County jury ruled in favor of Kay Moseley, a passenger injured on a Fresno Area Express bus in September 2021. The bus braked abruptly, throwing Moseley from her seat and causing serious injuries. She sued the City of Fresno for negligence. On August 28, 2025, jurors found the City’s driver negligent and responsible for her harm, awarding damages for her losses.

Plaintiff Maribel Stevens sued Hervis Properties, LLC, alleging she slipped on snow, ice, and debris in a Norwich parking lot. She claimed the property was unsafe and poorly maintained, resulting in a fractured foot and lasting impairment. The Defendant denied liability and argued Stevens’ own negligence caused the fall. On July 30, 2025, a jury found no negligence by Hervis Properties and entered judgment for the defense, awarding no damages.

In Hemispheres Condominium Association, Inc. v. 2000 Ocean Owner LLC, Suffolk Construction, and others, the association alleged that years of nearby tower construction caused flooding, structural damage, clogged drains, and loss of amenities at its Hallandale Beach property. Claims included breach of contract, negligence, and trespass. The defense denied liability, arguing lack of contractual privity and third-party causes. On March 17, 2025, a Broward County jury largely sided with Hemispheres, awarding damages for debris and vibration damage, along with trespass, though no damages were awarded for breach of contract.

Donald Stearns, a resident of Branford, Connecticut, owned a condominium unit at The Greens complex on Peddlers Drive. On the evening of January 18, 2020, snow covered the common parking lot. Stearns walked across it without incident to a grassy area to let his dog relieve itself. Minutes later, a snow plough passed and cleared the lot but left no sand, salt, or other anti-slip material.When Stearns stepped back onto the lot with his dog, he slipped on what he claimed was a slick, icy surface and fell. He alleged that the fall caused severe spinal and rib injuries, leading to long-term pain, loss of mobility, and emotional distress.Stearns claimed the snow ploughing had created a hazardous condition by exposing a slippery surface without treating it. He accused the condominium association, its property manager, and the snow removal contractor of failing to make the area safe or to warn

In Yamila V. Chavez v. Ariel Travieso, Mariolys Zayas, and John Travieso, a Miami woman was mauled by a neighbor’s dog that escaped through a defective fence, causing permanent injuries and emotional distress. She alleged negligence and strict liability under Florida’s dog bite laws, while the Defendants denied ownership and responsibility. On April 3, 2025, a jury found all three Defendants negligent, held them liable, and awarded Chavez substantial damages for medical care, pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.