This is a summary of selected Notable Cases our law firm has handled and settled in favor of our clients including workplace wrongful deaths, auto design defects and defective tires.
Personal Injury Cases and Successful Claims Settlements
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
The People v. Carmen Reyes Jr.
RESULT:
Charges Dropped
Wilms allegedly attacked the young boy and his mother as they were packing the Torrance family’s van for a camping trip around 5 a.m. on Saturday. Reyes, who lives with the family and is the caretaker of the boy’s father, reportedly ran outside after hearing the boy scream, at which point a violent altercation ensued.
Trial Attorney Gary C. Eto had the charges dropped in a homicide case in Torrance, California. Defendant’s bail was $5 million when Gary Eto was hired. The defendant was released three days later, and the charges were dropped.
CIVIL LITIGATION
Lobitana v. Jenkins, City of Los Angeles
SETTLEMENT:
$1.8 Million
On July 30, 2010, at the intersection of Edenhurst and Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, California, Defendant Jenkins was required to stop at the stop sign on Edenhurst before turning onto Los Feliz, and struck Plaintiff Asteria Tan Lobitana while she was crossing the street.
Pulalasi, Fiaseu, v. Gonzales, McGrew
SETTLEMENT:
$770,000
In or about August, 2005, McGrew allegedly “allowed or directed” Gonzales, to convert the garage into two bedrooms and a living space. Plaintiff Tuipala Pulalasi and decedent Lenee Pulalasi resided at the property inside one of the two converted bedrooms when a deadly fire occurred on June 19, 2008.
CAR ACCIDENTS & TIRE DEFECTS
Noel Casil, Catherine Casil, et. al. v. Sachi Rajul Patel, et. al.
SETTLEMENT:
$1,500,000
Defendant Sachi Rajul Patel was travelling in her 2010 blue Honda Civic, driven by Alfred Pimentel. The vehicle then collided with Plaintiff Catherine Casil’s vehicle causing it to flip over repeatedly across the freeway and land upside down in the middle of the freeway.
Weaver v. Cerritos Ford
SETTLEMENT:
$2,000,000
+ Confidential Settlements against Ford Motor Company and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
On Nov. 12, 2012, on the westbound Interstate 40, approximately 25 miles east of Barstow, Frankie Jo Weaver, 62 was driving her 1998 For Explorer when her left rear Cooper Dominator tire sustained a complete tread separation, resulting in a loss of control and rollover. Weaver was seat belted. Weaver suffered fatal injuries.
Ladunni v. Firestone
SETTLEMENT:
$2,000
+ Confidential Settlements with Bridgestone/Firestone
The plaintiffs were traveling north on Interstate-5 in Kern when the right rear Firestone FR 680 tire experienced a tread separation, which caused the vehicle to swerve out of control and to roll over into the dirt center median.
Adona Dela Pena, et al. v Toyota, et al
SETTLEMENT:
Undisclosed
The plaintiff was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of a tread separation, rollover, roof crush case. The specific vehicle was a 2001 Toyota 4 Runner. The tire was an OE (“Original Equipment,” supplied by Toyota) Grand Trek TG 35 P265/70R16.
Josefina and Benjamin Buenviaje v. Juan Miguel Molina, MDM Trucking, Black’s Towing, Joseph Vitanza
SETTLEMENT:
$640,000
On October 9, 2006, plaintiffs, Josefina Buenviaje and Benjamin Buenviaje were seatbelted passengers in the tow truck which was westbound on the Pomona Freeway. An 18 wheeler (semi truck) jacknifed and the tow truck slammed into the rear of the semi truck.
Peter Ludwig v. Sunrise Ford, Ford Motor Company, Bridgestone /Firestone
SETTLEMENT:
$200,000
+ Confidential Settlements with Ford Motor Company and Bridgestone /Firestone
On June 11, 2007, plaintiff Peter Ludwig was driving his 1996 Ford Explorer when the left rear Firestone ATX tire experienced a complete tread separation, causing the 1996 Ford Explorer to swerve out of control and roll over, causing catastrophic injuries to plaintiff.
Hyde v. Santellano
VERDICT:
$320,793
A woman who was stopped at a stop light was rear ended by a drunk driver, and she sustained bruises and soft tissue injuries to her neck and back.
Dizon v. Bridgestone/Firestone
SETTLEMENT:
Undisclosed
On October 31,1999 five college students attending The University of Southern California were returning to campus. While driving south on I-5, the left rear Firestone tire on the Ford Explorer separated, causing the Explorer to fishtail.
Navarro v. General Motors
VERDICT:
$1,189,661
Mr Navarro was a passenger in a 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that was rear ended on the Hollywood Freeway by a Datsun pickup. The impact ruptured the gas tank and a horrific car fire ensued.
RAILROAD ACCIDENT
Korpal v. Amtrak
VERDICT:
$2,496,138
An 84 year old passenger on an Amtrak train was killed when he was thrown from his bed. Former Southern Pacific Railroad Attorney Gary Eto contended that the injuries and resulting death were the result of a defective rail car and improper train handling by Amtrak.
WORKPLACE ACCIDENT
Gain v. City of Los Angeles
SETTLEMENT:
$1.9 Million
Four city managers were brutally and methodically gunned down by an insubordinate city employee while working at Piper Technical Center in Downtown Los Angeles.