Wrongful Death

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.

A Los Angeles jury returned a $3.06 million verdict against the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and one of its officers, Daniel Castaneda, following the 2022 fatal shooting of Leonel Chavez. The civil case, filed by Mr. Chavez's family for wrongful death and survival actions, centered on the negligent use of deadly force and institutional failures in training and supervision by the CHP. The jury determined that both the officer's action and the CHP's negligence were substantial factors in Mr. Chavez's death. While total damages were assessed at $6,000,000, the final award was reduced to $3,060,000 due to the jury's finding of 49% comparative negligence on the part of Leonel Chavez himself. The verdict is a significant finding of liability against the officer (51% fault) and the state agency he represented.

After a wrong-way McLaren crash on I-805 killed Aileen and Aryana Pizarro, their family sued Trevor Heitmann’s estate, TJH Holdings, and San Diego agencies for negligence and wrongful death. Plaintiffs alleged police failed to act on a mental-health warning. Defendants denied liability, citing comparative fault and statutory defenses. The case settled for $3,573,286, compensating the family and ending further litigation.

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.