Family of child fatally beaten awarded $8.5M
A jury awarded $8.5 million to the father and half-brother of a child that was beaten to death by the mother's boyfriend. In 2008, Seth Ireland, 10, was severely beaten by non-party Lebaron Vaughn, causing massive head trauma. Seth lapsed into a coma and died a few days later without regaining consciousness. Seth's father, Joseph Hudson, and half-brother, Jervon Ireland, claimed the county of Fresno's Child Protective Services heard from multiple sources about the violence perpetrated by Vaughn against Seth, but failed to investigate the claims and failed to take necessary actions to protect the child. The county claimed CPS complied with all regulations regarding investigations into reports of child abuse. The jury found the county 65 percent at fault, non-party Vaughn 25 percent at fault and the decedent's mother, who was dismissed from the action, 10 percent at fault. Thus, the plaintiffs' recovery should have been reduced to $5,525,000 based on the county's liability apportionment, but the court granted a motion for a new trial on the issue of percentage of fault.
Hudson v. County of FresnoFresno County
 |
Wife of man killed by light rail vehicle gets $900K
The wife of a man fatally struck by a speeding light rail vehicle received a $900,000 settlement. In 2009, William Brand, 70, was attempting to catch a train. As he crossed an intersection against a red traffic light and a flashing white "train coming" signal, he was struck by an LRV operated by Anthony Harge as part of his job with the San Francisco Municipal Railway, and the city and county of San Francisco. Brand's wife claimed Harge was traveling at speeds in excess of what the railway permitted and failed to sound his gong, bell or horn to warn Brand of the approaching LRV. As a result, Brand was struck by the LRV and thrown into a light pole, where he suffered multiple skull and facial injuries that led to his death.
VIEW THE FULL CASE Brand v. City and County of San FranciscoSan Francisco County
Family gets $225K for Father's Day Taser incident
A man and his family received a $225,000 settlement after police shocked the man with a Taser in front of his family. In 2010, Mitchel Mayhew had some guests over to celebrate Father's Day when he was approached by Arcadia Police Officers Mike Castro, Jeff Stark and Caesar Torres in response to a noise complaint. The officers then asked Mayhew for his identification, but when he had trouble finding it, Mayhew asked the officers to leave. However, Mayhew was shocked with Castro's Taser. Mayhew claimed an unprovoked Castro shocked him in front of his wife and three daughters after he asked the officers to leave. Castro claimed he deployed the Taser because Mayhew was being aggressive and seemed to be attacking Stark.
VIEW THE FULL CASE Mayhew v. City of ArcadiaLos Angeles County
Winningest California Law Firms:
(since May 22, 2012; California plaintiff's verdicts only; as reported by VerdictSearch)
| RANK | FIRM | VICTORIES | TOTAL RECOVERY |
1. |
Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley, LLP |
8 |
$42,983,785 |
2. |
AlderLaw P.C. |
7 |
$5,887,964 |
3. |
Panish Shea & Boyle LLP |
5 |
$77,139,924 |
4. |
Shernoff Bidart Echeverria Bentley LLP |
4 |
$50,795,975 |
5. |
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger |
4 |
$24,447,362 |
6. |
Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo |
4 |
$21,270,465 |
7. |
Taylor & Ring |
3 |
$13,699,971 |
8. |
The Gomez Law Firm |
3 |
$8,968,531 |
9. |
The Simon Law Group |
3 |
$8,034,534 |
10. |
Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP |
3 |
$2,497,411 |
