Many if not most clients want to know what types of cases a law firm has handled and what types of results have been obtained. Below are a sample of some of the types of cases we have handled over the years and some of the results. In doing so, however, it is important for the law firm to disclose and any prospective client to understand that each case is unique: invariably there are different facts, different legal issues, changes in the law, different damages, and different defenses, among many other factors (ranging from where the case may be filed (which county, state or federal court), to the potential judges, to the potential jurors, to the defense attorney and insurance company involved)). Accordingly, these case results are not intended to be, nor should be construed as, anything other than a disclosure of the types of cases we have handled (itself not an exhaustive or exclusive list) and some of the actual results. Nobody should construe any such case or result as having any relationship between a potential new case. As briefly shown above, there are too many factors and differences in every case to make any comparison or prediction to any other case.

Sample Case Verdicts & Settlements

LOTZ v SIGNATURE FARMS, ET AL. : Wrongful death of mother, father, and two young children due to leaking propane gas in home on hog farm.  Multiple experts presented cause and origin and scientific testimony.  Defendants claimed causation could not be established.  Loss of society and companionship damages awarded to each of the survivors in the four estates.  $14.1 million dollar verdict.

Michigan Law Weekly: Largest Verdicts

JOHN DOE v JACK DOE : 2 ½ year old boy suffered burn injuries. Product liability case with difficult liability facts and proofs versus national manufacturer.  $7.0 million dollar settlement just prior to trial.

JANE DOE v GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY : 16 year-old girl suffered burn injuries. Case required proofs for willful and wanton conduct, recklessness and gross negligence to overcome governmental immunity.  $6.6 million dollar settlement after over 1 year of litigation.

BUTLER v WALMART: Kalamazoo County. Neuro damage to c-spine after trip and fall.  $5.2 million dollar verdict with 25% comparative.

Kalamazoo Gazette: Jury Awards Surgeon $3.9 million

JOHN DOE v CORPORATION : Burn injuries from negligence/premises liability claims.  $5.238 million dollar settlement.

JANE DOE v GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY : 16-year-old girl suffered burn injuries.  Case required proofs for willful & wanton conduct, recklessness and gross negligence to overcome governmental immunity.     $4.5 million dollar settlement after 2 years of litigation.

Michigan Law Weekly: Largest Verdicts

JOHN DOE v ENTITY : 7 year-old boy suffered burns in propane explosion.  $4.5 million dollar settlement during litigation.

CURL v FUELGAS : Jackson County Circuit Court. 4 year-old girl suffered burn injuries from improperly filled propane cylinder.  $4.1 million dollar settlement after both parties accepted mediation award following over 2 years of litigation.

ILLINOIS CASE : Three students burned in a chemistry class accident.  $3.3 million dollar settlement before trial.

DYSON v FORMULA K: Rural Van Buren County. Fractured heel and mild brain injury.  $2.63 million dollar verdict. Best offer under $100,000.00.

Kalamazoo Gazette: $2.63 million awarded in fun-park accident

JOHN DOE v GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY : 20 year-old single man suffered burns from fire in building. Proofs required evidence to overcome governmental immunity and arson causation by other person (sentenced to prison for starting fire).  $2.283 million dollar settlement pre-suit for non-economic damages only.

JOHN DOE, et al. v ENTITY, et al. : Wrongful death case and brain injury to 2 year-old boy. Difficult liability claims with evidence that one Plaintiff at fault.  $2.2 million dollar settlement after 4 years of litigation.

HOWARD v MERLINO’S HIDDEN VALLEY ESTATES : Premises liability from propane leak and fire with burn injuries to three occupants.  Limited insurance coverage.  $2.005 million dollar settlement.

MURK v MEDALLION MANAGEMENT : While reading water meters, City Public Works Department employee was electrocuted when he inadvertently touched live wire exposed on boiler.  Wire was exposed when Defendant’s employee forgot to secure cover over boiler’s low water switch.  Decedent was survived by a dependent wife and two teenage sons.  $2 million dollar settlement.

JOHN DOE v ENTITY : Man suffered burns and mild brain injury in electrical explosion.   $1.9 million dollar settlement after 2 years of litigation.

POUCH v AMTRAK : Decedent, 15 years old, was a passenger in a vehicle struck by an Amtrak train at a railroad crossing.  The view of the on-coming train was blocked by a building at the crossing.  The active train warning system failed to provide sufficient time to warn the driver of the approaching train.  $1.5 million dollar settlement.

JANE DOE v CORPORATION : Wrongful death claim.  Facts surrounding cause of death, decedent, and defendant’s identity subject to a confidentiality clause per the settlement agreement.  $1.5 million dollar settlement.

MALANIAK v AMERICAN HOUSE, et al : 79 year old with approximately 13% scald burns to feet and legs with subsequent wrongful death from sepsis.  $1.35 million dollar settlement.

KIDNEY v WISTREICH: Decedent was driving his motorcycle below the speed limit.  Defendant suddenly turned in front of motorcycle without sufficient time to avoid the collision.  Decedent is survived by a dependent spouse and two teenage children.  $1.1 million dollar settlement.

JANE DOE v ENTITY : Small child scalded in bath tub. Boyfriend convicted of homicide. Claim brought against separate entity despite homicide conviction.  $1.1 million dollar settlement against separate entity and despite fault of felon.

MINOR CHILD v POWER COMPANY : Four year old child crawled into an unlocked electrical transformer box at an apartment complex while outside playing with her siblings and neighbors.  The child suffered second and third degree electrical burns.  The settlement was used to purchase a structure will guarantee a payout of a minimum of $3,680,239 and an expected payout of $5,177,285 over the child’s lifetime.  Mother of child, who was present at the scene, also recovered for her claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress.  $917,00 dollar settlement.

MINOR CHILD v KULPINSKI: Amputation of finger when farm tractor tire fell on minor’s hand while she was playing in grandparent’s barn.  $450,000 dollar settlement.

MINOR CHILD v STADIUM APARTMENTS : Scald injury to minor who was being bathed in sink at apartment.  Treated and released at the hospital and no skin grafting with resultant discoloration.  Recovery was used to purchase a lifetime structured settlement for minor with a minimum of $915,215.98.  $315,000 dollar settlement.

LIEBENDORFER v ALBANESE (2008) : Claim arising from sexual assault.   $3.69 million dollar verdict.

ESTATE OF JANE DOE v XYZ TRUCKING CO. (2008) : A young woman was killed when the car she was driving was struck head-on by a semi-truck.  $925,000 dollar pre-suit settlement out of 1 million dollar policy.

“JONES” v UNNAMED CO.(2008):  Burn injuries and traumatic brain injury alleged resulting when Mr. Jones crashed into vehicle on freeway.  Difficult liability claim with issues concerning non-party fault.  Settlement of $1,090,000. Some of the settlement proceeds structured for economic  security of clients.

ESTATE OF JOHN DOE, DECEASED v ESTATE OF DRIVER (2008); driver ran stop sign and entered path of motorcyclist, who had no time to react or avoid collision; cyclist was killed.  Recovery was solely for non-economic damages.   $1,350,000

ESTATE OF DOE, DECEASED v FOOD COMPANY; interstate trucking crash resulting in death.  John Doe’s vehicle was stopped in a construction zone on the interstate.  Defendant’s truck driver rear-ended the vehicle killing him  During the investigation, it was discovered that Defendant’s driver falsified his log sheets and exceeded the maximum number of road hours allowable.  truck driver fatigue played a major role in causing the crash.  Decedent left a spouse and four minor children.   $3,750,000

JANE DOE v JOHN DOES AND COMPANY (2008); Jane Doe was passenger in vehicle that was broadsided in intersection where Defendant’s truck and overloaded trailer ran a red traffic signal.  Plaintiff suffered pelvic fractures and mild brain injury.   $1,050,000

JOHN DOE vs DRIVER 1 and DRIVER 2 (2010):  Motor vehicle collision involving a truck and an automobile that collided in a T-intersection.  The car was pushed into a parking lot that was parallel to the intersection where it struck the victim, who was exiting his parked vehicle.  The young man suffered catastrophic injuries to his lower extremities, including multiple leg, ankle, pelvic, hip and rib fractures.  A below the knee amputation later became necessary because of infection.  $1.1 Million Dollar settlement for the policy limits of both drivers.

JANE DOE v J. DOE AND COMPANY (2011); Jane Doe was driving her vehicle when a drunk driver crossed over the centerline and struck her head-on.  Plaintiff suffered multiple fractures and mild brain injury.   Defendants included not only the intoxicated driver, but also the company who owned the establishment where the driver was served alcohol.   $1,300,000