Negligence

Two young brothers secured a $10.5 million settlement against San Bernardino County and multiple social workers after the Department of Children and Family Services failed to protect them from abuse and returned them to parents who ultimately tortured and murdered their infant brother Jamari Mendez in April 2022. The plaintiffs, identified as J.G. and J.M., witnessed their baby brother's killing after social workers ignored warning signs including documented domestic violence, drug use, and protective orders against their father Ricardo Mendez. The case settled in March 2025, days before trial was scheduled to begin.

The case of Davis v. Home 2 U 9, LLC, et al., filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, reached a $1,000,000 settlement, concluding the intense litigation over a residential care facility's failure to supervise a dangerous resident. The plaintiffs, Carlos Davis and his minor daughter, H.D. Doe, had sued the operator, HOME 2 U 9, LLC, for negligence and premises liability. The complaint charged that the defendant completely breached its duty when it allowed a registered sex offender, known to pose a significant risk, to leave the facility unsupervised while the overnight caregiver slept. That lack of supervision directly resulted in a devastating incident that caused H.D. Doe to suffer severe and lasting emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. The defendant consistently denied liability, arguing the resident's criminal acts were unforeseeable. However, after extensive legal proceedings and the exchange of strong expert testimony on facility protocol and child psychology, the parties agreed to the seven-figure settlement in August 2025, thus avoiding a highly publicized jury trial.

This case arose after a dangerous 60-foot manual sliding gate collapsed on tenant Christopher Huynh behind his business in Stanton, California. The heavy gate pinned him to the ground, causing paralysis, spinal damage, and long-term disability. His wife, Christine Vu, later became his full-time caregiver. The couple alleged the property owners and managers ignored warnings about the unsafe gate, failed to maintain the premises, and instructed Huynh to close it each night. As trial approached, the parties reached a $10.8 million settlement reflecting the permanent injuries, profound loss of mobility, and the life-changing impact on the couple’s future.

A $3.5 million settlement closed the negligence lawsuit between passenger Izumi Streller and the City of Santa Monica after a fall aboard a Big Blue Bus left her injured. The incident occurred when the bus driver, Rochelle McCovery, allegedly accelerated before Streller could secure herself, causing her to fall and strike her head. Streller’s attorneys argued that the city, as a public carrier, failed to meet its duty of providing the highest level of passenger safety. The City denied wrongdoing, claiming it maintained proper standards and that Streller contributed to her own fall. After two years of litigation, both parties reached an unconditional settlement on August 6, 2025, avoiding trial and providing financial compensation for Streller’s injuries and suffering.

An 11-year-old girl, Lyric Jointer, reached a $200,000 settlement with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor after suffering a severe second-degree burn while unsupervised at the Harbor City Club. The lawsuit accused the organization of negligence for failing to provide proper supervision, which led to Lyric spilling scalding soup on herself. Filed by her mother and guardian, the case sought compensation for medical care, permanent scarring, and emotional distress. The confidential agreement, finalized on April 25, 2025, resolved all claims and avoided a jury trial.

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.

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 Jane Doe v. Advanced Facility Inc., et al., a Pinellas County jury ruled that a Clearwater care facility, its manager, and an employee were responsible for severe abuse inflicted upon a vulnerable adult resident. Thill filed suit under a pseudonym in 2021, alleging that between 2018 and 2019, employee Falo Kane sexually assaulted and exploited her while she lived at Advanced Care Center. The complaint further asserted that the facility owner, Advanced Facility, Inc., and manager Donald De Baker failed to provide proper supervision, safety measures, and oversight, enabling the abuse to occur. After reviewing evidence of intentional misconduct and systemic negligence, the jury found Kane liable for sexual assault and exploitation of a vulnerable adult. They also determined that the corporate entity and its manager were negligent, violated Thill’s statutory residents’ rights, and legally caused her injuries. On February 17, 2025, the jury awarded Thill $250,000 in damages—$125,000 for sexual assault and $125,000 for exploitation—holding all three Defendants responsible for her trauma and long-term harm.

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.

A civil lawsuit stemming from a 2021 traffic collision involving a Los Angeles Police Department employee concluded with a $460,000 settlement. Plaintiff Rosa Becerra sued the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD, and employee Yesenia Emestica, alleging negligence caused the crash that left her seriously injured and unable to work. Filed in March 2023, the case focused on the City’s liability under respondeat superior. After months of negotiation, the City Council approved the payout, finalizing the settlement in July 2024 and closing the case before trial.