On September 1, 2011, Pettit Kohn successfully defended one of its large retail clients in a personal injury action in Bakersfield, California. The plaintiff alleged that she sustained permanent and debilitating injuries in an accident on the client’s premises. At trial, the plaintiff offered expert testimony to support economic damages of over two million dollars and asked the jury to return a verdict between six million and six and one-half million dollars. Pettit Kohn argued at trial that its client acted reasonably to maintain the premises in a safe condition and was not liable for the plaintiff’s injuries. After two weeks of testimony and argument, the jury determined that the defendant was not negligent and that the plaintiff was not entitled to any monetary recovery. Grant Waterkotte and Robert Ortiz represented the client on Pettit Kohn’s behalf.
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Pettit Kohn Achieves Another Defense Verdict for Large Retail ClientSeptember 20, 2011Client Dismissed in Federal Civil Rights LawsuitAugust 19, 2011On August 9, 2011, the United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against one of the firm’s clients and its manager. The plaintiff claimed his civil rights were violated when the manager submitted a private citizen’s arrest order to the police who subsequently arrested plaintiff for trespass. The court determined the client was not a state actor and that complaining about plaintiff’s conduct to the police was insufficient to establish a civil rights violation. Martin Moreno and David Halm handled this case on behalf of the Pettit Kohn’s client. Court Dismisses Case Against Firm ClientJuly 7, 2011On July 1, 2011, the Bakersfield Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit against one of Pettit Kohn’s clients. The dismissal was obtained before the start of trial enabling the client to avoid the costs of trial. The client was represented by David Halm. Pettit Kohn Obtains $2.2 Million Jury Verdict in Product Liability CaseApril 19, 2011Press Release – Pettit Kohn Obtains $2.2 Million Jury Verdict in Product Liability Case Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC, a San Diego, California law firm, announced today that Damian Dolin, Shareholder of the firm, obtained a $2.2 million verdict on behalf of his client in a product liability/personal injury case. San Diego, Calif. – Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC, a San Diego, California law firm, announced today that Damian Dolin, Shareholder of the firm, obtained a $2.2 million verdict on behalf of his client in a product liability/personal injury case – Andrea Huber v. Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation, et al (Case No. 37-2008-00078376-CU-MM-CTL). Mr. Dolin tried the case before the Honorable Frederic L. Link of the San Diego County Superior Court (Central Division) and a jury panel of 12. “I believed the jury would see that Richard Wolf’s product was unnecessarily dangerous. I hoped the jury would award Mrs. Huber damages commensurate with her injuries. We are very pleased with the $2.2 million verdict,” said Mr. Dolin. According to court documents, Mrs. Huber underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove endometriosis on February 23, 2007. Defendant Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation designed, manufactured, and sold the unipolar laparoscopic coagulator wand used in the surgery. Stray electricity escaped from Richard Wolf’s medical device during surgery. The stray electricity damaged the wall of Mrs. Huber’s bowel, causing a significant perforation resulting in peritonitis. The trial began in September 2010, and lasted ten days. The jury returned its verdict after two days of deliberation. According to court records, the jury found Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation liable under both product liability and negligence causes of action. The jury deemed the coagulation device used during Mrs. Huber’s laparoscopic surgery to be both defectively and negligently designed. “My client’s injuries could have been prevented. Mrs. Huber and I hope this verdict helps raise awareness about the dangers of certain laparoscopic medical devices,” said Mr. Dolin. The $2.2 million verdict was intended to compensate Mrs. Huber for her past and future medical expenses, emotional distress and pain and suffering. In discussing the jury’s verdict, Mr. Dolin noted, “Andrea nearly died after her first surgery, and endured three more surgical procedures to address the damage done by Richard Wolf’s medical device. I am very pleased that the jury recognized the seriousness of Andrea’s injuries and lasting impact the injuries will have on her life.” About Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC You can read the online version of the press release here. Firm Client Wins Eviction and Damages in Real Estate ActionJanuary 28, 2011On behalf of a client who leases numerous shopping centers in Southern California, David Halm successfully evicted a tenant and then later obtained a judgment for damages and attorney’s fees against the tenant. Pettit Kohn Obtains a Defense Verdict for a Large Retail ClientNovember 18, 2010On November 10, 2010, a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge issued a judgment after appeal in favor of the firm’s client. The case involved allegations of personal injuries stemming from a slip and fall accident on the client’s premises. After hearing all the evidence in a one day bench trial, the court found that the store was not negligent and that Plaintiff was not entitled to any monetary recovery. Martin Moreno represented the client on the firm’s behalf. Pettit Kohn Wins Jury Trial for ClientOctober 30, 2010On October 5, 2010, Pettit Kohn successfully achieved a favorable jury verdict for the firm’s client. Pettit Kohn attorneys Grant Waterkotte and Mark Bloom represented the client, whose former company failed to pay him bonus wages. After almost 2 weeks of trial, the Riverside jury determined that the defendant had breached its contract with the firm’s client, and awarded him nearly the entire monetary amount he requested. Firm Client Wins Court Trial in Real Estate CaseJune 16, 2010On June 3, 2010, one of Pettit Kohn’s clients won a judgment after a court trial involving a real estate sublease dispute. David G. Halm served as lead trial counsel in this matter. Pettit Kohn Client Obtains Early Dismissal of LawsuitJune 16, 2010On June 3, 2010, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted a motion resulting in dismissal of a lawsuit that sought in excess of $115 million in damages against one of Pettit Kohn’s clients. The dismissal was obtained early in the litigation enabling the client to avoid the attorneys’ fees and expenses that would have been incurred in discovery and trial preparation. David G. Halm led the team that achieved this successful result. Pettit Kohn Client Wins Dismissal of AppealMay 27, 2010On April 23, 2010, the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, granted a motion to dismiss an appeal in favor of one of the firm’s clients arising out of an underlying business litigation action. As a result of this dismissal, the client avoided the expense of the appeal and is entitled to an award of its attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in bringing its motion to dismiss. David G. Halm represented the client on behalf of the firm. |
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