Orthopedic Injuries and Bone Fractures

Damage Award: $4.5 Million

Helicopter Midair Collision
Severe Orthopedic Injuries
Our client, a 22-year-old Marine and Iraqi war veteran, was on a pilot-training exercise at Torrance Municipal Airport when his Robinson helicopter collided midair with another helicopter, killing the two people aboard the other aircraft.

In the crash, the young man broke every bone in his body from the waist down.  He remained in a coma for three weeks and suffered compartment syndrome which required his wounds to remain open for an extended time.  Nearly every bone in his lower body required repair by permanent surgical instrumentation.

In our relentless investigation into the cause of the accident, we challenged NTSB and FAA findings, which blamed the pilots.  We rejected their claims and conducted independent detailed crash analysis.  

Our litigation team presented irrefutable evidence during the bench trial that the air traffic controllers’ negligence was wholly to blame. The judge found the controllers 100 percent responsible for the catastrophe.  Exoneration of our client was a critical part of his desire for closure and justice. We were also able to obtain a multimillion dollar award which will assist him in rebuilding his life.

Settlement: $700,000

Industrial Delivery Accident
Severe Leg Fracture
As a courier delivered heavy rolls of aluminum, our client, an employee of the receiving company, tried to unload the shipment with a pallet jack, which caught our client’s foot. His leg was severely fractured and he suffered chronic regional pain syndrome.

We sued the company that originally loaded the shipment and made it impossible to use a forklift.  We also sued the company responsible for unloading the shipment. Following pre-trial depositions of witnesses, we obtained a $700,000 settlement a few days before trial.

Settlement: $600,000

Golf Cart Accident
Knee Replacement Injury
Our client, a golf caddie, was hit in the back of the leg by a golf cart driven by a golfer. The incident aggravated pre-existing arthritis in his knee, which lead to knee-replacement surgery.  A week before trial, the driver’s insurance company settled the case for $600,000.

Settlement: $500,000

Post Flooding Injuries
Toxic Mold Injury, Respiratory Ailments, Bone Fractures
An elderly retiree’s apartment flooded as a result of a water main breaking in an upstairs apartment.  Even after the damage to the woman’s apartment was cleaned, our client acquired a respiratory infection from the ensuing mold infestation. The respiratory infection led to violent bouts of coughing, which caused several fractures of ribs and vertebrae for our client, who suffered from osteoporotic disease.  We recovered $500,000 in damages from the upstairs homeowner and the plumbing company responsible for servicing the water main.

Verdict: $450,000 Verdict

Complex Premises Liability – Huntington Library
Shoulder Fracture
Our client tripped over an unmarked step in a doorway in the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in Pasadena. The 73-year-old retired teacher fractured her right shoulder, which required surgical repair.  Our client had an extensive medical history, including prior right shoulder problems.  The Huntington’s insurance company offered no settlement prior to or during trial, claiming that the accident was caused solely by our client’s inattention and that she exaggerated her injuries.  We challenged their claims at trial and the jury delivered a $450,000 verdict to our client.

Settlement: $425,000

Complex Premises Liability
Ankle Fracture
A surgeon stepped in unmarked wet cement on the floor of a hospital and fractured his ankle. The injury prevented him from working for an extended period of time. In our claim against the hospital and floor installers, we obtained a $425,000 settlement.

Settlement: $325,000

Movie Set Injury
Foot Crush, Chronic Pain Syndrome
Our client was a grip for a move production studio. While unloading the walls of a movie set from a trailer, the driver of the trailer improperly untied them. The walls cascaded down and crushed our client's foot, which resulted in chronic regional pain syndrome. Several days before trial, we achieved a $325,000 case settlement. 

Settlement: $300,000

Pedestrian - Auto Accident
Bone Fracture and Orthopedic Surgery
While walking in a crosswalk, our client was hit by a car.  She was in a crosswalk.  She sustained a comminuted fracture of her tibia and fibula requiring the placement of a plate and screws in her leg.  We settled the case with the defendant for $300,000 which was the policy limit.

Settlement: $250,000

Dog Fight Injury
Rotator Cuff Injury
While our client walked his dogs on a public street, two large, off-leash Tibetan Mastiffs charged our client’s dogs. In the scuffle, the Mastiffs knocked our client to the ground, and caused a torn rotator cuff. We negotiated a $250,000 settlement from the Mastiff owner’s insurance company.

Settlement: $200,000

Bicycle Injury
Hand Injury
Our client was a bicyclist training for a triathlon when a driver made a wide right turn directly in front of our client, causing a collision and throwing our client off his bike.  We were able to obtain a settlement of $200,000 for his injuries which included lacerations and a severed tendon in his right thumb which required outpatient surgery.

Settlement: $85,000

Bicycle Injury - Dangerous Road Conditions, Government Entity
Broken Bones
A bicyclist cycling down Tierra Rejada Road in Simi Valley hit a pothole in the road, propelling him off the bicycle.  The fall caused him to break his collarbone and ribs, along with additional multiple injuries.  We sued the County of Los Angeles for improper road maintenance and held the government entity responsible for the road’s dangerous condition.