Wrongful Death

On March 8, 2024, 56-year-old Vanessa Marie Taylor drove her Ford Focus westbound on State Route 18 near Palmdale. James Michael Wolfe, operating a Dodge Ram ProMaster van for his employers, Adapthealth, LLC and Verio Healthcare, Inc., veered across the solid line. His van collided head-on with Taylor’s vehicle. She died from the crash. Her daughter, Kai Ratliff, as successor-in-interest, filed this wrongful death lawsuit.Wolfe allegedly drove recklessly while in the course of employment. Plaintiff claimed he was fatigued, distracted, and reached for an energy drink before the crash. He crossed into oncoming traffic, striking Taylor’s vehicle. Plaintiff argued Adapthealth, Verio, and other unnamed defendants bore responsibility for employing Wolfe, entrusting him with the van, and failing to prevent unsafe conduct. She also claimed they acted in concert and condoned his reckless driving, making them jointly liable.Taylor suffered traumatic injuries, pain, and mental an

A California jury awarded $3.3 million to the parents of Joshua Campos, who died at Theo Lacy Jail after alleged delays in medical response and systemic failures in inmate care. The lawsuit cited improper housing of a mentally ill inmate, poor contraband control, and inadequate safety checks as causes of his wrongful death.

On December 5, 2024, a Florida jury awarded $310 million in the wrongful death case of Tyre Sampson, who died after falling from the 430-foot Free Fall ride at Icon Park. The verdict followed allegations of safety lapses, inadequate restraints, and negligent inspections. His parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, received $30M each for pain and suffering and $125M each for future medical and funeral expenses.

Jury awards $5.25M to family of woman who died after bronchoscopy; Jefferson Hospital found liable for negligent discharge and monitoring.

Scott Stillwell Wilson died during surgery at Middlesex Hospital in 2019. His estate sued the hospital and anesthesiology group, alleging negligence. A jury found both defendants at fault, awarding $20 million in damages—$15 million for loss of life’s enjoyment and $5 million for death. The jury assigned 85% of the responsibility to the hospital and 15% to Anesthesiologists of Middletown, P.C.

James Tedeschi filed a wrongful death lawsuit after his father, Raymond G. Tedeschi, died following alleged failures in cardiac care. The case involves multiple defendants, including physicians and healthcare institutions accused of not diagnosing or treating life-threatening heart issues. As the litigation continues, the court has scheduled the next hearing for August 18, 2025, to address procedural developments and possibly move the case toward trial.

Denis Fleurantin’s stay at Krystal Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation lasted just two days—but it ended in tragedy. After being admitted for post-stroke care, staff allegedly ignored clear medical orders and failed to respond to his respiratory distress. His wife, Marie Fleurantin, later filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging negligence and abandonment. In June 2025, a Florida jury awarded her $1.2 million in damages, holding the facility accountable for what the complaint described as a preventable and painful death.

The Texas Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling Friday that overturned an $89 million jury verdict against Werner Enterprises and truck driver Shiraz Ali, establishing new precedent for determining liability in highway collision cases. The court ruled that despite evidence of the truck driver's negligence, he cannot be held responsible for injuries caused when an out-of-control pickup truck crossed a 42-foot median into oncoming traffic.

A Florida jury ruled in favor of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Emergency Physicians, Inc., and Dr. Robert Raspa in a wrongful death case involving 9-year-old Laila Michel. Her parents alleged that negligent emergency care led to her death. The jury found no breach of the standard of care and awarded no damages, closing the case on January 23, 2025.

Cheryl Rogers sued the City of Jacksonville over a fatal crash caused by an obstructed stop sign. Despite claims of negligence and wrongful death, a Duval County jury found the City not liable, ruling in its favor on April 2, 2025, after reviewing all evidence and arguments.

A Miami-Dade jury awarded over $7.3 million in a wrongful death case involving a 2020 car crash that killed 20-year-old James D. Donaldson III. The jury found the defendant primarily at fault but reduced the award due to the decedent’s comparative negligence.

A Tolland County jury awarded $2.5 million in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of Gordon T. Reynolds against Eric R. Millette, who was found 100% liable for a fatal 2019 motorcycle crash in Columbia, Connecticut. The verdict included economic and noneconomic damages after the jury concluded Millette’s negligent and reckless driving, including operating under the influence of benzodiazepines, caused the collision that led to Reynolds’ death.