A jury found plaintiff was injured as a result of a dangerous condition of public property, but also concluded the county was immune based on design immunity and returned a defense verdict. On appeal, the court noted that design immunity is an affirmative defense that must be plead and proved, and that, while “numerous witnesses […]
Jury Properly Instructed Prison Dentist ’s Care May Be Considered In The Context Of Available Resources.
As soon as plaintiff arrived in prison, he sought dental care, complaining he had cavities and his gums were bleeding. He saw a dentist twice during the year, but was dissatisfied with the care he received and filed an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for money damages against the prison dentist and others, claiming […]
Because Court Rejected Proposed Special Verdict Form Judgment In Jury Trial Reversed.
Defendant in an automobile accident case submitted a special verdict form that would have required the jury to consider the fault of both parties, as well as a non-party, for purposes of allocating liability for plaintiff’s noneconomic damages. According to plaintiff, she was a passenger in the back seat of a car stopped at a […]
Express Oral Findings Sufficient For FEHA Attorney Fees Award.
Plaintiff was employed by a university and terminated due to his harassment of a female employee after being given several warnings. In his action under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Government Code section 12900; FEHA), he contended his termination for harassment was a pretext for racial discrimination. Other than testifying he believed he […]
Burden Of Proof In Patent Case Brought As A Declaratory Relief Action.
The dispute revolves around a license given to licensee by licensor/patentee to practice certain of licensor’s patents in exchange for royalty payments. Licensor contended licensee infringed the licensed patents, and licensee challenged that assertion of infringement in a declaratory relief action. The district court concluded licensor/patentee, as the party asserting infringement, had the burden of proving […]
Permitting Expert Testimony A Judge Is Taken To Task For Leaving The Gate Unguarded.
In an asbestos action in federal court, a jury awarded damages totaling $10.2 million. An en banc Ninth Circuit vacated the judgment and remanded the matter for a new trial. The issue on appeal was the trial court’s permitting two expert witnesses to testify. The appeals court concluded: “The district court failed to make findings of […]
Was Sexual Harassment A Substantial Motivating Reason?
Plaintiff contended he was fired in retaliation for reporting allegations of sexual harassment and a jury awarded him $238,328. The trial court instructed the jury with CACI No. 2430, the 2012 version. Citing Harris v. City of Santa Monica (2013) 56 Cal.4th 203, [294 P.3d 49, 152 Cal.Rptr.3d 392] the appellate court reversed for a new […]
Who Has Time To Read A Special Verdict Form?. . . .Unimportant Details
In an action for hostile work environment brought under Government Code section 12900, et seq. [California Fair Employment and Housing Act; FEHA], a jury returned a plaintiff’s verdict for $160,000 and the court awarded him $680,520 for attorney fees. In a motion for JNOV, defense counsel argued the parties and the court agreed on a special verdict form […]
Twister Interferes With Clear Sailing Agreement.
The parties entered into a settlement agreement containing a “clear sailing” provision, which allowed class counsel to seek an award of attorney fees and incentive payment from the trial court with the assurance that defendant would not oppose, if the amount sought was less than or equal to an agreed amount. An additional clause required class […]
New Trial Granted In Product Liability Case With Sophisticated User Defense.
Plaintiff, a maintenance worker, was using a power drill to drill a hole in a piece of angle iron when the drill bit bound and the drill counter rotated, twisting his arm and causing serious injuries. His theory at trial was that the drill should not have been used without a side handle, and that it […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- …
- 12
- Next Page »