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Across the last several weeks, CVN has covered major trials around the country, including a pair of key product liability cases, a California crash trial with a rare directed verdict, and more. Check out critical moments from three headline-making proceedings we’ve recently covered.
California Jury Awards $8.9M in Crash Case Involving Drunk Driver
Earlier this month, a California jury awarded $8.9 million to a man struck by a drunk driver, after a directed verdict was issued in favor of the plaintiff on questions of liability and comparative fault.
Victor Montez claimed he suffered numerous injuries, including back and neck trauma and a traumatic brain injury, when his vehicle was struck by Dennis Perez, who ultimately pleaded guilty to a felony DUI charge.
In closings of the trial, which featured insurer MetLife stepping in for Perez, Montez’s attorney, Rex Parris, of the PARRIS Law Firm, detailed the drunk driver’s alleged reaction following the crash.
“[Montez] was literally drowning in his own blood. And Mr. Perez didn’t even call 911, let alone come up and see if he could help…. It happened. It was wrong. It was vile.”
Monsanto Prevails in Missouri “Roundup” Trial
In May, jurors in Missouri cleared Monsanto of liability for the rare blood cancer a woman claimed was caused by the company’s “Roundup” herbicide.
The woman contended glyphosate in the weed killer caused her cancer. However, in openings of the month-long trial, Bartlit Beck’s Katherine Hacker told jurors that, although there had been a dramatic increase in the use of glyphosate-based products throughout the country over the last 25 years, there had been no corresponding increase in Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the cancer at issue.
“And that is the simplest and easiest way we can tell that Roundup does not cause cancer.”
$18.8M Verdict in First Post-Bankruptcy J&J Talc Trial
A California state court jury awarded $18.8 million to a 24-year-old man who contended he developed cancer from asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based Baby Powder, wrapping the first such trial since J&J’s bankruptcy filing halted talc litigation against the company two years ago.
J&J contends its talc does not cause cancer. However, in openings, Kazan Law’s Joseph Satterley, representing the plaintiff, claimed evidence would show fibers in the product led to cancer, but the company continued to sell the talc as a cornerstone to its branding.
“The baby franchise, and baby powder, was who they [were].”
Email Arlin Crisco at acrisco@cvn.com.
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