CVN News

10 “Must Watch” California Defense Verdicts in CVN’s Trial Video Library

Written by David Siegel | Nov 11, 2020 6:48:30 PM

Courtroom View Network recently featured 10 “must watch” plaintiff verdicts from California, one of the most well-represented jurisdictions in CVN’s trial video archive.

Now check out these 10 must watch defense verdicts, featuring everything from cosmetic talc to bus rollovers to medical malpractice. Each of these trials, and the hundreds more in CVN’s trial video archive, gives you a chance to see top tier litigators at work on their feet in front of a real jury.

Become a CVN subscriber today and get unlimited gavel-to-gavel access to all of these trials and many more from throughout the United States. Watch for yourself firsthand how these elite attorneys delivered game-changing verdicts for their clients.

From the tone and language used in opening and closing statements, to the cross-examination of expert witnesses, to the incorporation of exhibits and demonstratives, a CVN subscription gives you a front row seat to high-stakes trials, so you can sharpen your skills the next time you step into the courtroom.

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1. Villa v. City of Long Beach (Los Angeles County)

City prevails in $40 million vehicle rollover/unsafe road conditions lawsuit

Defense counsel: Monte Machit, Theodore Zinger, Chelsea Trotter (Long Beach City Attorney’s Office)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/fermin-villa-v-the-city-of-long-beach-trial-2019-02-19

Why you should watch: A California state court jury cleared the City of Long Beach in 2019 in a $40 million lawsuit alleging that unsafe road conditions caused a single vehicle rollover accident resulting in a passenger’s permanent brain damage.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/city-of-long-beach-prevails-at-40m-vehicle-rollover-trial-stemming-from-allegedly-unsafe-road-conditions

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2. Diaz v. Cynosure Inc., et al. (Los Angeles County)

Jury rejects celebrity plastic surgeon’s lawsuit over allegedly defective laser

Defense counsel: Karin Curtis, Philip Brinson (Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/adrian-diaz-et-al-v-cynosure-inc-et-al-trial-2019-03-25

Why you should watch: A long-running products liability trial ended in a defense verdict in 2019, when a California state court jury sided with laser manufacturer Cynosure Inc. in a lawsuit alleging the company’s fat removal device left a woman with permanent pain and scarring.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/jury-rejects-celebrity-plastic-surgeons-product-liability-lawsuit-over-allegedly-defective-fat-removal-laser

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3. Avalos v. Medtronic Inc., et al. (Los Angeles County)

Surgeon cleared in 1st trial over alleged off-label use of spinal implant

Defense counsel: Dennis Ames (LaFollette Johnson PC)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/christina-avalos-v-medtronic-inc-et-al-trial-2018-03-12

Why you should watch: A California state court jury delivered a defense verdict in 2018 for a surgeon accused of engaging in “off-label” use of medical device company Medtronic’s “Infuse” spinal implant on a patient without her consent, in the first such case to go to trial.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/surgeon-cleared-in-1st-trial-over-alleged-off-label-use-of-medtronics-infuse-spinal-implant

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4. Herford v. Johnson & Johnson, Imerys (Los Angeles County)

Defense verdict in first cosmetic talc/mesothelioma trial involving Johnson & Johnson

Defense counsel: Sharla Frost (Tucker Ellis LLP), Alexander Calfo (King & Spalding LLP), Morton Dubin (Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP), Todd Benoff, Peter Masaitis (Alston & Bird LLP)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/herford-v-att-corp-et-al-trial-2017-10-02

Why you should watch: A California state court jury handed a major win to Johnson & Johnson in 2017, determining that the company is not responsible for a woman’s cancer that she claims she developed from inhaling asbestos fibers in popular talc-based hygiene products.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/breaking-jj-scores-1st-trial-victory-over-claims-its-talc-products-cause-mesothelioma

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5. Schelitzche et al. v. Townsend Farms Inc. et al. (Los Angeles County)

Costco prevails in wrongful death trial over berry blend-linked hepatitis outbreak

Defense counsel: Eric Kuwana (Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP), Damien Martinez (LTL Attorneys LLP)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/townsend-farms-organic-anti-oxidant-blend-cases-trial-2017-10-04

Why you should watch: A California state court jury in 2017 cleared Costco and other companies of any liability for the death of an 89-year-old woman whose children sought $18 million after she allegedly contracted hepatitis A from eating a frozen berry blend they claimed purchased from the store.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/costco-avoids-potential-18m-verdict-in-1st-wrongful-death-trial-over-berry-blend-linked-hepatitis-outbreak

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6. Powell v. BNSF Railway Co., City of San Diego (San Diego County)

BNSF, City of San Diego, dodge $4.5 million verdict over fatal motorcycle accident

Defense counsel: Anthony Sonnett, James Brooks (Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP), Jane Boardman, Jelly McGeehan (San Diego City Attorney’s Office)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/estate-of-jamie-scott-powell-et-al-v-bnsf-railway-co-trial-2017-04-28

Why you should watch: A California state court jury in 2017 rejected claims from the family of a deceased U.S. Navy sailor that potholes and allegedly unsafe railroad tracks caused him to fly off his motorcycle and into oncoming traffic.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/bnsf-and-city-of-san-diego-dodge-5.4m-verdict-over-fatal-motorcycle-accident

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7. Dauber v. Monsanto (Los Angeles County)

Jury clears Monsanto in $15 million PCB cancer trial

Defense counsel: Anthony Upshaw (McDermott Will & Emery), Adam Miller, Robyn Buck (Husch Blackwell LLP)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/roslyn-dauber-et-al-v-monsanto-co-et-al-trial-2016-03-08

Why you should watch: Agrochemical giant Monsanto Co. notched a major win in 2016 in ongoing litigation over the alleged health risks of exposure to long-lasting carcinogens called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, when for a third time a state court jury cleared the company of responsibility for cancer that plaintiffs claimed was caused by the chemicals.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/breaking-jury-clears-monsanto-in-15m-pcb-exposure-trial

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8. Hickman v. Hard Rock Cafe (San Diego County)

Jury sinks injured concertgoer's $10.7 million lawsuit over celebrity DJ’s stage dive

Defense counsel: Kevin Gramling, Ernie Weiss (Klinedinst PC)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/hickman-vs-hardrock-cafe-international-trial-2016-04-29

Why you should watch: A California state court jury handed a win in 2016 to a Hard Rock Hotel in a lawsuit filed by a concertgoer who suffered a concussion and broken neck when celebrity DJ Steve Aoki jumped into the crowd from high above the stage during a concert, rejecting the woman’s claim for over $10 million in damages.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/jury-sinks-injured-concertgoers-10.7m-suit-against-hard-rock-over-celebrity-djs-stage-dive

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9. Chen, et al. v. TBE International Inc. (Los Angeles County)

Bus dealership prevails in $58 million fatal rollover trial

Defense counsel: Douglas Robinson, Janet Hickson (Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/hairu-chen-et-al-v-tbe-international-inc-et-al-trial-2015-04-07

Why you should watch: A California bus dealership dodged a potential $58 million wrongful death verdict in 2015, after a state court jury found a tour bus that rolled over while taking a group of Chinese tourists to visit the Grand Canyon was not defective due to lacking passenger seat belts.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/bus-dealership-prevails-in-58m-wrongful-death-rollover-trial

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10. Chularee v. Cookson Company (Los Angeles County)

Door company wins in $32 million trial over ex-UCLA staffer’s brain injury

Defense counsel: Christopher Faenza (Yoka & Smith)

Link to gavel-to-gavel video with full attorney and witness information:

https://cvn.com/proceedings/paradee-chularee-et-al-v-the-cookson-company-inc-et-al-trial-2015-09-21

Why you should watch: Jurors in 2015 cleared a door company of liability for the brain damage a former UCLA staff member claims she suffered when a rolling fire door struck her head.

More via the CVN News Blog: https://blog.cvn.com/door-company-wins-in-32m-trial-over-ex-ucla-staffers-brain-injury

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E-mail David Siegel at dsiegel@cvn.com