Examples of Typical Cases & Results

CLIENT RECEIVES LARGE SETTLEMENT AGAINST A SKI RESORT:

Client was skiing and fell into an alleged unmarked man made half pipe causing severe injuries.  Case settled for 2.7 million dollars after extensive litigation. 
Case settled 2009.  Ski resorts are rarely found liable for injuries as skiers assume the risk of injury when they participate in a dangerous sport. This is the same for parachuting, going to a hockey game where you can get hit by a hockey puck and other potentially dangerous activities. However, when the ski resort changes the natural condition of the slopes they must do so with care and warn of any dangerous conditions or they can be held liable for negligence if injury ensues.  In order to avoid the risk of being found negligent the ski resort in this case decided to settle for a large amount.

CLIENT RECEIVES LARGE VERDICT AGAINST WAL MART:

Dunn & Associates took on the largest company in the world, Wal Mart, and beat them all the way to the California Supreme Court. Wal Mart employees pushed a large number of shopping carts into the Client. Wal Mart alleged that the client jumped in front of the carts to stage an accident, and that he had a criminal record and could not be trusted. After a seven day jury trial the jury unanimously agreed that it was Wal Mart that was at fault, and awarded $309,000 to the client. According to trial attorney Phil Dunn he was advised that as a result of this case Wal Mart changed policies as to how and where they push shopping carts into their stores. Ronald Cardenas vs. Walmart. Victorville Superior Court, Case # VCV 011107. On appeal the California Appellate and the California Supreme Court agreed with the jury and upheld the verdict.

CLIENT RECEIVES LARGE VERDICT AGAINST COMMERCE CASINO:

Dunn & Associates took on the Commerce Casino for their client who was struck by a shuttle bus while walking to her car in the casino parking lot. With the help of some great experts in the fields of economics, life care planning, occupational medicine, neuropsychology, neurosurgery, physical medicine, jury consulting, accident reconstruction and safety engineering, the jury awarded an amazing $13,155,718.00. Hang Anh Nguyen vs. California Commerce Club and Braulio Reyes, Los Angeles Superior Court Case # BC 240 182

CLIENT TURNS LEFT AT INTERSECTION BUT STILL WINS TRIAL:

Dunn & Associates won a unanimous jury verdict for an 87 year old lady who turned left at an intersection in front of a another driver. Slochem vs. Tennenbaum, Los Angeles Superior Court Case # C-433,067. Usually pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 21801(a), the person turning left is at fault. Trial attorney Phil Dunn convinced the jury that was not the case on this occasion.

CLIENT WINS JURY VERDICT AFTER HE SLIPS ON WATER:

Dunn & Associates won a unanimous jury verdict for their client who slipped on water on a bathroom floor in a restaurant. The defense claimed the Plaintiff, who had just been in a serious accident the week before, was never there and suffered no injuries. The defense called the Plaintiff’s own doctor to testify he was under strict instructions to stay in bed. In addition the defense argued they always put up signs when they mop, so anyone entering the bathroom was on notice to be careful. With the help of some good investigators, trial attorney Phil Dunn was able to show the jury pictures of the restaurant employees mopping with no signs up, and found someone else who had slipped under similar circumstances in the same bathroom. Ray Gay vs. Royale Restaurants, Inc., Ontario Superior Court, Case # CW-12801

CLIENT RECOVERS AFTER SHE TRIPS ON PIPES:

Client received $102, 500 due to tripping over pipes left outside her mobile home. Defendants claimed they had warned the Client to be careful around the construction and that she had tripped on a barricade or simply fallen. Client suffered a broken ankle. The defendant wanted the settlement to remain confidential, so no names can be revealed. Case filed in Santa Monica Superior Court.

CLIENTS RECEIVE LARGE VERDICT AGAINST MAYFAIR HOTEL:

Dunn & Associates represented 15 tenants against the prior owners of the Mayfair Hotel for nuisance, and other causes of action. The jury, after a four week jury trial awarded the tenants $1,000,000.00 in punitive damages and another $277,000.00 in general and special damages. Trial attorney Phil Dunn proved the landlord was systematically making life difficult for the tenants so they could get rid of the tenants who were paying low rent. The Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court upheld the verdict. Ollie Harrison, et al vs. Chit Yong, & Mayfair USA Corp, Los Angeles Superior Court Case # C 355-875

CLIENTS ( STUNTMEN) INJURED WHILE MAKING MOVIE RECOVER:

Several stuntmen were injured while making the movie “Cyborg II”, by an explosion which was allegedly set off too soon. The stunt men suffered burns. Two of the stunt men were represented by Dunn & Associates’, Phil Dunn. The settlement for the six stunt men totaled $1,000,000.00 plus a waiver of the workers compensation lien of $154,000.00. The issue was whether or not workers compensation would bar the civil action. Gregg Sargeant, et al, Vs. Cyborg II, Long Beach Superior Court, Case # 009819

CLIENTS RECOVER FROM THE GETTY MUSEUM AND OTHERS:

While building the Getty Museum, Dunn & Associate’s client’s house started to make loud noises. This was a mystery that would occur on and off. This disturbed their sleep as it happened at all different times. The sounds were traced to the pipes at the Getty. Eight law firms represented the various defendants some of whom helped build the Getty. It was determined that the pipes at the Getty were for various reasons causing the problem. The case settled for $96,000.00 and the clients were able to sleep much better once the noise stopped. Mark & Louise Copeland vs. J. Paul Getty Trust, et al Santa Monica Superior Court Case # 030 955

CLIENT REAR-ENDED ON FREEWAY RECEIVES BIG SETTLEMENT

This case settled on the steps of the Court house for $499,000.00. Dunn & Associate’s client was rear-ended on the freeway, and underwent neck surgery to correct a 2 to 3 mm disc bulge. The first offer was $100,000.00, which through mediation was slowly increased, but not until the day of trial and a request by the defense for a one week continuance did the defense finally offer the right amount. Confidential settlement: Los Angeles Superior Court

CLIENT WINS VERDICT IN ALLEGED LOW IMPACT REAR-ENDER

Chubb Insurance claimed the client was rear ended at low speed, (6mph delta v). They hired a bio-mechanical expert, accident reconstruction expert, orthopedic surgeon and chiropractor to testify that this was a minimal damage case involving over-treatment. They offered nothing in an attempt to get Dunn & Associates to drop the case. Dunn & Associates hired a bio-mechanical expert, and retained the treating chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon, and family doctor to testify. Plaintiff made an offer of $20,000 which was rejected by Chubb, and no counter offer was made. The jury rendered a verdict of $40,864.00. Because Chubb Insurance rejected the $20,000 offer, and the jury came in with a verdict of $40,864.00, Chubb had to also pay $25,000 in costs to Mr. Dunn’s clients for the experts. Thus, a case Chubb could have settled for $20.000 ended up costing the insurance company about $100,000, not including their attorneys time. A good message was sent to Chubb Insurance, that they should be fair to victims, even where there are only soft tissue injuries. Katherine Marker vs. Robert Posada, Santa Monica Superior Court, Case # SC068481

DUNN & ASSOCIATES HAS HELPED MANY MOTORCYCLE RIDERS:

• Dunn & Associates Client, a Motorcycle rider received a settlement of $135,000 for soft tissue injuries when a person cut him off, causing him to come off his bike.  Case settled 2010.
  
  
• Dunn & Associate’s client, a Motorcycle rider received $380,000.00 from a defendant who turned left in front of the client. Defendants had an independent witness that claimed the Plaintiff was going 50mph in a 40mph zone, and that contributed to the accident. Plaintiff suffered a broken leg. Confidential settlement: Long Beach Superior Court
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• Dunn & Associate’s client, a Motorcycle rider received $300,000.00 in settlement based on a well drafted and well documented settlement brochure. The other driver turned left in front of him causing the accident. Broken leg.
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• Dunn & Associate’s client, a Motorcycle rider now receives payments for life, without a law suit, due to the negligence of an automobile driver. The structured settlement involved the purchase of an annuity that provides for periodic payments for the rest of his life. Trial attorney Phil Dunn indicated that the client was unlicenced and uninsured at the time of the accident.
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• Dunn & Associate’s client, a Motorcycle rider won a jury verdict of $73,656 for soft tissue injuries received when a car clipped him as he drove his Harley Davidson chopper down the street. Defendant contended the Plaintiff was speeding, inattentive and should have been able to avoid the collision and that he had been involved in twelve prior accidents and incidents and one subsequent incident, thus any injury he suffered was from those events. Trial attorney Phil. Dunn argued that the last thing the client needed in his life was another accident. Even though his injuries were soft tissue, he had suffered greatly due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions. Verdict $105,223 gross, $73,656 net. Calvin Shatto vs. Marin Haas McCarthy Santa Monica Superior Court Case # SC038696
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• Dunn & Associate’s client, a Motorcycle rider received a six figure policy limits settlement for a broken foot suffered, when he was run into by s negligent driver. Case settled before a lawsuit was necessary.

WRONGFUL DEATH CASES:

• Dunn & Associate’s client died when the car in which he was a passenger went out of control and under s tractor trailer on the freeway. Case resulted in six figure policy limits settlement.
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• Dunn & Associate’s clients received $750,000.00 from insurance carrier due to one car roll over collision resulting in death of relative.
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• Dunn & Associate’s client killed when hit by train. Family received policy limits settlement against convalescent home that failed to watch over him to make sure he did not wander off. Decedent had Alzheimer’s disease and was supposed to be in a locked down facility.
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• Dunn & Associate’s client, a Motorcycle rider’s father received a six figure policy limits settlement from an insurance company as a result of his son dying when a car negligently pulled from the curb on a winding mountain road, striking and killing him.

REAR END COLLISION RESULTS IN LARGE SETTLEMENT

• Dunn & Associate’s client received $650,000.00 due to being rear-ended while stopped at a red light. A product’s liability claim was made against the manufacturer of the car he was riding in that the head rest was defective and contributed to his injuries. A major car manufacturer rather than have the adverse publicity settled. Head rests that sit too low can actually act as a fulcrum and increase your injuries in rear end collisions.