Verdicts and Settlements

Monsanto Ordered to Pay Two Billion ($2,000,000,000.00) in Damages for Cancer Caused by Roundup

October 22, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Monsanto, a large American agricultural chemical and biotechnology company, has had several personal injury claims filed against it due to harm caused by its well known product called Roundup. Roundup is a weed killer that has been found to be a “substantial factor” in causing cancer, specifically Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, in those who use it. If you used or were exposed to Roundup and have cancer, including Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, our Los Angeles Montsanto personal injury attorneys can help get you much needed compensation for any injuries Roundup has caused you.

In several of the California trials against Monsanto, juries have awarded the victims millions of dollars in damages for the harm the weed killer caused. According to the Los Angeles Times, Alva and Alberta Pilliod were both diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma within a span of four (4) years. They “had used Roundup for more than 30 years to kill weeds on three properties they owned.” In May 2019, a jury awarded the couple over $2 billion in damages (the jury verdict was made-up of $2 billion in punitive damages, plus $55 million in compensatory damages.) This amount was later reduced to $87 million total, still a huge amount, and although “the couple had anticipated the reduction…their lawyer said the overall ruling was ‘a major victory.’”

Other victims have also been awarded very substantial money damages for developing cancer after using Roundup. Dewayne Johnson, who was exposed to Roundup as a school groundskeeper, was ultimately awarded $78.4 million. In March 2019, Edwin Hardeman’s final award was $25.2 million. Many others have used this Monsanto product and have been greatly harmed—they too deserve compensation for their serious injuries. One question is, how much is fair? Another question is, how to fairly apportion the money; or, put another way, how to be sure the assets or money does not run out before all victims receive a fair proportionate share to compensate them for their injuries and damages?

Police Officer Killed in Irvine Bike Accident

August 11, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An off duty detective with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department died Wednesday from injuries he suffered in an Irvine bike accident. The man, Detective Duane Parkison, who worked at the Rancho Cucamonga station, was hit by a sports utility vehicle in Irvine, California.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Irvine police are investigating the Irvine bicycle accident. The cause of the bicycle accident in Irvine has either not yet been determined or released.

200 Million Dollar Judgment Awarded For Metrolink Train Crash Victims

July 14, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Many people remember the tragic Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth, California on September 12, 2008. The crash resulted in the death of 24 passengers and injuries to 98 survivors. Today, Judge Peter Lichtman decided how to divide up the 200 million dollars in funds available to the victims of the Metrolink train accident.

According to the judgment, in the first group, the adult wrongful deaths, the average recovery is 4.2 million dollars. In the second group, the parents of young people who were killed in the train crash, they were awarded an average of 1.2 million dollars in wrongful death damages. For the 98 injured passengers, their personal injury settlements, based on their injuries, damages and future care were for $12,000 or more.

Jury Awards $1.2 Million in Police Brutality Case of Bounty Hunter Shot by LAPD

January 25, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles jury has awarded $1.2 million in damages in a police brutality case brought by a bounty hunter who was shot and wounded by a Los Angeles Police Department. The bounty hunter, Elvin Andre Gilbert, was in South Los Angeles, seizing a bail jumper who was wanted on a felony, when he was shot by the police officer.

Apparently, the police officer found Gilbert, with Allen Badoya, another bail agent, holding the suspected bail jumper with his hands behind his back and a gun to his head. The officer, who mistook the situation for an armed robbery or kidnapping, then shot Mr. Gilbert.

Gilbert’s attorney argued that Gilbert’s gun was not raised when they were confronted by the officers. Gilbert said he was shot as soon as he stood up and he never heard the officers give a warning. They also argued that the LAPD had previously been notified that the bounty hunters would be operating in that area. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department said the officer did give a warning before shooting and only shot after Gilbert turned towards them. There have also been allegations that police tried to plant evidence to make it look like a reasonable shooting.

Gilbert was shot three times, including in his stomach and right arm. The jury in this Los Angeles civil lawsuit ruled that the LAPD did not have the probable cause needed to arrest Gilbert, and awarded him $1.165 million total, including $365,000 in economic damages, $200,000 for his physical pain, mental suffering and emotional distress, and a further $600,000 for his future damages.