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Verdicts & Settlements
The following are settlements and jury verdicts that have been achieved by our
New Jersey trial lawyers.
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$135 million verdict for alcohol liability lawsuit involving a multibillion-dollar international food and beverage company that sells beer at Giants Stadium. The company sold alcohol to a visibly drunk fan, who later caused a car accident that paralyzed a 7-year old girl. This
case was later remanded by the appellate court and settled for a
confidential amount.
Click here
click here to read various stories around the nation about this
landmark verdict.
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$39 million class action settlement. Sutter v. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Physician Class Action settlement. Under the settlement agreement, Horizon BCBSNJ has committed to implement significant business practice improvements related to physicians to increase transparency in payment of claims, reduce administrative overhead, and improve interactions between the health plan and physicians. These improvements will help enhance the efficiency and quality of the health care delivery system in New Jersey.
Click here for article
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$15.75 million
settlement of accounting malpractice case. This
case involved allegations that malpractice by an accounting firm
resulted in erroneous financial statements, which allegedly
allowed an insolvent company to continue in business.
The case settled for $15.75 million, which brought the total
recovery by our law firm in litigation relating to the
insolvent company to $25 million.
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$15.3 million verdict against insurance company. This was a case in which an insurance carrier declined to pay multiple settlements against a single eye surgeon. Following a two week trial, the trial judge ruled that the insurance carrier, Princeton Insurance Company, had to pay the settlements.
Click here to read the full article.
The verdict was later reversed on appeal and remanded for
further proceedings.
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$14.7 million personal injury settlement.
In this case the plaintiff suffered Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome, also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, as well as
peroneal nerve dysfunction, as a result of a car running over
his foot.
- $10 million jury verdict for failure to provide police protection. Action brought on behalf of a young child who was severely burned by a Molotov Cocktail explosive device that was thrown into the bedroom of his family’s apartment by an unapprehended perpetrator. The jury awarded $10,000,000. in compensatory and punitive damages, which award was reduced by the trial judge to $2,400,000. and affirmed on appeal. The jury found that the police broke their promise to the victim’s family to put surveillance on their home on the night of the attack in order to catch the perpetrator in light of prior similar incidents and pending threats against a family member.
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$9.7 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case on behalf of a man who suffered a severe pelvic injury while donating bone marrow. The jury awarded this amount after a one-week trial against the two hematologist-oncologists who performed the operation. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge to $1.4 million, based on the judge’s finding that the jury award was so high that it shocked the judicial conscience. The case then settled for an undisclosed amount. Click here
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$7.8 million settlement of a product liability lawsuit involving a defective ride at an amusement park which resulted in the deaths of two persons. The case involved claims that the ride was improperly designed and manufactured, which resulted in our two clients being ejected from it. The case settled for the sum of $7.8 million.
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$7.25 million settlement for professional malpractice involving claims against actuaries of an insolvent insurance company. The case involved claims brought by the New Jersey Banking & Insurance Department on behalf of an insolvent New Jersey insurance company against the company's outside actuaries. The Complaint alleged that the insurance company relied on its outside actuaries to calculate how much money it should set aside for property and casualty reserves, but that the calculations were too low resulting in the insurance company sustaining substantial losses. The case settled for $7.25 million after mediation on February 11, 2005.
Click here to read the full article.
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$4.8 million legal malpractice settlement. Fortunato vs. Kranitz Comparet & Sarrow. This was a legal malpractice action filed against a law firm relating to its issuance of erroneous legal opinion letters to a surety bond company. As a result of the erroneous opinion letters, our client issued surety bonds for real estate limited partnerships. The claims ultimately settled for $4.8 million in cash payments and withdrawn claims against our client’s liquidating estate.
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$4.15 million settlement for brain injury.
This was a case where plaintiff claimed to have suffered a brain
injury after a hutch fell on him while he was at his desk at
work. The defense experts claimed there was no brain injury,
but that the plaintiff's symptoms were all psychosomatic. Just
prior to trial, the defendant settled the case for the sum of
$4.15 million.
Click here to read the full article.
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$3.5 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case on behalf of a nurse who was not advised by the hospital that employed her that she had been infected with the Hepatitis C virus while treating a patient, resulting in delayed treatment. The jury awarded this amount against the hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge, based on the judge’s finding that the jury award was so high that it shocked the judicial conscience.
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$3.5 million settlement for medical malpractice. This was a case involving failure to diagnose an arterial occlusion that resulted in the patient sustaining a paralyzing stroke. The treating physicians erroneously concluded that the patient was suffering from a pinched nerve, when instead the patient was having a transient ischemic attack (TIA). If treated properly, the patient would not have suffered a stroke. After four days of trial the case settled for $3.5 million. Click here
to read the full article.
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$3.18 million settlement for Passaic River car drowning. This was a case in which a car
veered off a dangerous curve on Raymond Boulevard in Newark, New
Jersey, and plunged into the Passaic River.
The occupants drowned when the car sunk in the river. This
settlement was paid by the City of Newark on behalf of the estate of one of the
women who drowned in the car.
Click here
to read the full article.
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$3 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case involving a death of a 40 year old man which was caused by medical malpractice by two physicians at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. After a two-week trial, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded $3 million in damages. On appeal, the Appellate Division affirmed the verdict.
Click here to read the full article
about the verdict.
Click here to read the full article
about the appeal.
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$2.7 million settlement of a high profile case involving police brutality. Faison vs. Orange. This was a wrongful death case in which our client was beaten by the police an ultimately died while in their custody. The case was extensively covered by the New Jersey Star Ledger, the Bergen Record and in various local newspapers and television reports, and has been described as one of the infamous police brutality cases in New Jersey history.
Click here to read the full article.
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$2.5 million legal malpractice jury verdict. Integrity vs. Herzfeld & Rubin. This case involved claims of legal malpractice against Herzfeld & Rubin, a well known Park Avenue law firm, Herzfeld & Rubin. The claims related to Herzfeld & Rubin's negligence in issuing an opinion letter which was relied on by that our client relied upon in entering into a limited partnership real estate transaction. After a six week jury trial, we obtained a $1.3 million verdict on behalf of our client.
Click here to read the full article.
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Click here to read the full article.
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$2.1 million Lasik malpractice settlement against
celebrity physician Dr. Joseph Dello Russo.
Dell'Ermo vs. New Jersey Eye Center, and Joseph Dello Russo,
M.D. This
was a case in which we received a $2. million settlement for
claims brought by a 47-year old man who was rendered legally
blind due to the medical malpractice committed by prominent
physician Dr. Joseph Dello Russo arising out of Lasik surgery.
This is believed to be the largest Lasik malpractice recovery in
New Jersey history, and one of the largest in the nation's
history.
Click here
to read the full article reported in the New Jersey Star Ledger
online edition at NJ.com.
Click here to read the press release.
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$2 million director and officer liability settlement. Suter v. AON Corp. This was a lawsuit filed against the former officers and directors of a property and casualty insurance company which was placed in liquidation. The case involved allegations of gross negligence and breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the former directors and officers, primarily with respect to a shell company which was set up to misdirect funds from the insurance company. There were also claims relating to the defendants' handling of other transactions which resulted in losses. The case settled for the sum of $2 million.
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Click here to read the full article.
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$1.8 million products liability settlement. Aspras vs. Deerpath. This was a case involving a defective clamp on scaffolding used by the plaintiff, a union painter. The theory of the case was that the clamp was metallurgically defective, which resulted in the plaintiff falling and becoming injured. The painter ultimately had three surgeries on his back. We were was able to obtain summary judgment as to liability as against all defendants. This resulted in a settlement of $1.8 million.
Click here to read the full article
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$1.8 million commercial litigation settlement. Integrity vs. Pollack. This was a lawsuit relating to breach of the defendant’s guarantee relating to the construction of a Hilton Hotel in Las Crucas, New Mexico. Settlement was achieved after we obtained a judgment against the defendant, and docketed that judgment in Michigan. The settlement included $300,000 to compensate our client for legal fees and expenses.
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$1.75 million settlement of a medical malpractice action. Van Wyk vs. Zamecki. This was a medical malpractice case in which our client, a 71 year old woman, became a paraplegic shortly after a hip replacement operation. We argued that the defendant anesthesiologist allowed the plaintiff’s blood pressure to fall too low during the operative procedure, thus resulting in permanent damage to the nerves in her spine. The case ultimately settled for the sum of $1.75 million after the presentation of all proofs and prior to closing arguments at trial. Click here to read the full article.
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$1.5 million arbitration award for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman underwent Lasik surgery to correct her vision. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.
The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law
issues.
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$1.4 million legal malpractice settlement. Wiggins vs. Flanzblau Dratch. This was a legal malpractice settlement against a law firm relating to its failure to timely and properly file a lawsuit against another law firm for legal malpractice. The case involved a number of cutting edge theories relating to the law of legal malpractice, and was described by the Judge on the record, "as intriguing a case as I can recall". The case settled for $1.4 million.
Click here to read the full article.
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$1.4 million settlement for wrongful death. This is a case which was brought against a utility and a tree service for failing to properly maintain a tree which ultimately fell and killed a motorist. After completing discovery and litigating the case, the claims were settled for $1.4 million.
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$1.4 million verdict for vicious dog attack. Reynolds vs. Guard Dogs Unlimited. We obtained a $1.3 million award for his client, a victim of a vicious dog attack. This personal injury case involved claims of negligence and fraud against Lancaster County Prison relating to their transfer of a vicious rottweiler to the plaintiff. Lancaster County Prison had failed to advise the plaintiff that the dog had "irreversible medical problems" and had attacked on numerous previous occasions. Shortly after taking possession of the dog, our client was viciously attacked and sustained injuries to his arm and leg. After a three week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $1.3 million in plaintiffs' favor.
Click here to read the article.
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$1.35 million settlement of a legal malpractice case. In this case we sued a law firm for committing legal malpractice with regard to several loan transactions. The claims included failure to file a mortgage, failure to perform a title search, drafting promissory notes containing usurious interest rates, and conflict of interest in secretly representing a debtor, while collection proceedings were pending against that person. The case ultimately settled for a lump sum payment of $1.35 million.
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$1.25 million settlement for medical malpractice/wrongful death. This was a settlement of a medical malpractice death case against a New Jersey doctor. Taglieri v. Moss. We established that the New Jersey doctor committed malpractice by causing our client to become addicted to prescription drugs such as Tylox, Percocet, Oxycotin and Soma, and kept him addicted for fifteen years, until his death. We obtained summary judgment on liability, and the case settled at trial for $1.25 million.
Click here to read the article.
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$1.1 million verdict for medical malpractice.
This was a case on behalf of a woman who underwent extensive surgery
for ovarian cancer that had spread throughout her pelvis and
abdomen, and had a laparotomy pad left in her abdomen at the end of
the operation. The woman suffered infection, developed an
enterocutaneous fistula, and died four months later, as a result.
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$1.15 million settlement for wrongful death of truck driver. Suit brought on behalf of truck driver, struck and fatally injured by passing automobile, while standing outside truck parked on shoulder of road.
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$1.05 million arbitration award for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman was not properly instructed regarding the signs of impending retinal detachment, following Lasik surgery. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.
The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law
issues.
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$1 million arbitration award for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were improperly treated. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.
The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law
issues.
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$1 million verdict for a client who claimed to be part of a multi-million dollar lottery pool.
Marinelli v. Avalone. In this case our client claimed that she was part of a co-worker lottery pool which ultimately won a $33 million lottery prize. The rest of the participants in the pool denied that our client was a participant. What made the case so difficult was that our client had never paid for her share of the pool, although she testified that she was told she could pay after the lottery drawing. We won the case at trial, with the judge finding that our client was entitled to one full share of the lottery winnings. This resulted in a lottery share of approximately $1 million for our client. The case was the subject of significant news coverage by television, radio and newspapers.
Click here to read the article.
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$1 million arbitration award for medical malpractice.
This was a case involving Lasik surgery negligently performed on our client. The doctor was negligent in performing the Lasik, as our client was not an appropriate candidate for the procedure. As a result of the defendants’ medical malpractice, our client’s vision in one of his eyes was impaired. Our client
received an arbitration award of $1 million in damages.
The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law
issues.
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$950,000 settlement in a construction site accident case. This was a construction site accident case in which we obtained a $950,000 settlement on behalf of his client who was severely injured while assisting in the unloading of concrete sewerage pipes off of a tractor trailer. As part of the case, we sued the general contractor of the project for violations of job site safety, as well as the trucking company which loaded and transported the pipes. The case ultimately settled for $950,000. The identities of the defendants were withheld as part of a confidentiality agreement.
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$950,000 confidential settlement for failure to
diagnose breast cancer.
This was a case in which the client
had a lump in her breast. Our client claimed that the
doctor had told her that the lump was normal.
The doctor countered by producing a copy of a referral form to a
breast specialist that he claimed to have given to the client.
The case settled before trial for $950,000.
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$910,000 verdict for woman injured on waterslide. This was a case in which a woman injured her coccyx on a waterslide. The trial judge threw out the entire verdict, finding that the amount was so high it shocked the judicial conscience. On appeal, the Appellate Division reinstated $400,000 of the
verdict.
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$900,000 arbitration award for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a man suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were not properly treated.
The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law
issues.
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$900,000 settlement for ophthalmology
malpractice. This was a case involving claims
that an opthomologist committed medical malpractice during a
routine surgical procedure to remove a sty. Our client
became blind in his left eye following the procedure. The
case settled prior to trial for $900,000.
Click here to read the full article.
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$900,000 settlement of a legal malpractice case.
This was a case involving claims against two law firms for negligently failing to file spousal battery claims before the expiration of the statute of limitations, and for failing to advise the client concerning her legal rights against her ex-husband. The case settled at the start of trial for the sum of $900,000.
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$890,000 slip and fall jury verdict. Noble vs. Extra Supermarket. We obtained this award on behalf of the estate of an 80 year old man who died after slipping on ice in the parking lot of a supermarket.
Click here to read the full article published in the New Jersey Law Journal.
Click here to read the full article published in the Newark Star Ledger.
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$850,000 Broker malpractice settlement. Randall vs.
Brunell Kramer Waldor Agency. This was a case involving claims of broker malpractice which resulted in damages to a surety bond company. The claims involved deficient underwriting by the defendant in acting as plaintiff’s managing general agent, in the issuance of various surety bonds for construction projects located throughout New Jersey. The case settled for $850,000 after the close of all evidence and prior to the completion of closing arguments
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$775,000 arbitration award for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were not properly treated.
The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law
issues.
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$750,000 settlement for insurance broker malpractice.
This was a case brought on behalf of the Commissioner of the New
Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance to recover improper
fees charged to Home State Insurance Company before the insurer
was declared insolvent. The insurance broker agreed to pay
$750,000 to the State of New Jersey.
Click here to read the
full article published in the New Jersey Law Journal.
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$750,000 settlement for sexual abuse of minors, psychiatric malpractice. This is a confidential settlement, details cannot be disclosed.
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$750,000 class action settlement. Kampf vs. Comcast. This was a class action filed by us against Comcast for its blackout of several New York Mets games during the 1997 baseball season. The case settled soon after class certification was granted in our clients’ favor. The settlement included vouchers being awarded to the members of the class, with a gross value of approximately $750,000.
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$750,000 product liability settlement. Welle vs. Superior Signal Company. This was a product liability case involving toxic gas emitted from smoke bombs used by firefighters to train firefighting recruits. Our client was severely injured after removing his gas mask during one of these training exercises. The case involved numerous issues involving the toxicity of the smoke, as well as whether it had permanently injured plaintiff’s lungs. The case settled for $750,000 after a directed verdict was granted in our client’s favor.
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$750,000 product liability settlement. Rega vs. Terminal Construction. This was a product liability/construction site accident case involving a defective ladder. We argued that the general contractor was negligent in failing to abide by worksite safety protocols, as well as in building a defective ladder for use by the plaintiff. After a two week trial, the case settled for $750,000.
Click here to read the article.
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$737,000 automobile accident settlement. Goodhart vs. Foss. This was an automobile accident in which the plaintiff sustained severe personal injuries. Although the plaintiff appeared to have made an excellent recovery, the plaintiff alleged to have sustained cognitive impairments due to post traumatic stress disorder. The case ultimately settled with a recovery of $737,000.
Click here to read the article.
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$715,000 settlement of a premises liability action. Blair vs. Grey Manor Motel. This personal injury case involved claims of negligent security against two motels located in Wildwood, New Jersey. Our client was severely injured after being attacked by a drunken teenager while on the defendants' property. The case settled after jury selection for $715,000.
Click here to read the article.
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$700,000 settlement for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a man underwent Lasik surgery to correct his vision, but he was not a proper candidate for the surgery, and suffered damage to his eyes and vision.
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$682,000 medical malpractice jury verdict. This was a medical malpractice case in which our client died after having liposuction performed on her thighs. The case was a very difficult case in that there was no direct evidence as to any negligence on the part of the defendant doctor. However, we argued that various marks shown on the autopsy pictures demonstrated that there was trauma to the legs during the liposuction procedure. The jury agreed and found that malpractice had been committed by the defendant and thereby entered a jury award in plaintiff’s favor.
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$597,000 settlement for falldown accident/medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman tripped over a machine part left in a supermarket aisle by an employee performing maintenance, resulting in a severely broken foot. The supermarket and the woman’s treating orthopedist both contributed to the settlement.
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$500,000 settlement for medical malpractice.
$500,000 settlement, during trial, for removal of cervix during
subtotal hysterectomy intended to preserve cervix.
Click here to read the article.
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$500,000 award. Gnecco vs. Greyhound. This was an automobile accident in which our client suffered orthopedic injuries. The case was tried in Federal Court and ultimately resulted in a $500,000 award.
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$500,000 verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman with severe diabetes injured her foot, and was not properly treated by infectious disease doctors and a podiatrist, resulting in the amputation of her leg below the knee. The woman died of unrelated causes one year later.
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$500,000 settlement for premises liability. This was a case in which a woman was assaulted in the lobby of her apartment building, suffering head injuries and psychiatric injuries. The settlement was paid by the owner of the apartment building for having deficient security.
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$470,000 settlement for adult survivor of incest, conscious repressed memory invoked to toll the statute of limitations. This is a confidential settlement, details cannot be disclosed.
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$455,000 jury verdict of a medical malpractice action. DaRocha vs. Chirovsky. This case involved claims of medical malpractice against the defendant doctor for failing to advise plaintiff that an additional hernia surgery could likely result in the loss of one of his testicles. The defendant doctor performed the surgery, and one of plaintiff’s testicles was removed. The jury awarded $455,000 to our client to compensate him and his wife for their damages.
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$450,000 automobile negligence settlement. This was a personal injury case involving a severe automobile accident in which our client suffered significant leg injuries. The case settled for the sum of $450,000.
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$400,000 product liability settlement. Meade v. CMF. This was a product liability action filed against an installer of fences. Our client was seriously injured after a defect in the fence caused serious injuries. The claims against the installer of the fence settled for $400,000.
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$400,000 settlement for auto negligence. This was a personal injury case involving severe injuries resulting from an automobile accident. The case ultimately settled for a cash payment of $400,000.
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* Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Because every case is different, the descriptions of awards and
cases previously handled are not meant to be a guarantee of success. |
