Results of Our Orange County Attorneys

Wrongful Death At 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of Bear Valley Road, a 14-year-old with an infectious laugh was struck and killed by a green Ford Explorer. Alex De La Cruz was on his way to class at Apple Valley High School. While tragic, his death was not the first to occur at this time, at this intersection. In 2003 and 2004, two children were killed in similar, inauspicious circumstances. Parents and school officials alike begged the town to enhance the safety of the intersection, but Apple Valley officials failed to act.

Wrongful Death William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $12,250,000.00 settlement against the City of Los Angeles for the three children of a man killed while walking in a crosswalk in Venice, California.

Pedestrian Accident William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a confidential settlement against South Bay Yellow Cab and a $9,500,000.00 settlement from the City of Los Angeles for the parents of Naomi Larsen (Age 15) who was hit and killed by a South Bay Yellow Cab while attempting to cross Vista Del Mar along Dockweiler beach in the City of Los Angeles. The Defense relied on the opinions of the investigating officers who determined that Ms. Larsen and her friends were at fault for causing the accident since they failed to utilize a marked crosswalk and were “jay walking”. Plaintiffs were able to show that historic marked cross walks in the area had, without City approval, been eliminated and that there were no marked crosswalks for over a mile and no operating street lights on the roadway at the time of the accident. In addition, Plaintiffs alleged that the City had actual notice of a dangerous condition to pedestrians and of other pedestrian accidents and fatalities going back many years.

Sexual Harassment $9,000,000.00: After a six week jury trial William M. Paoli received a jury verdict in excess of $9,000,000.00 for two female co-workers against their employer. This judgment is said to be the largest verdict in Orange County at that time for a sexual harassment case.

Wrongful Death Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC as co-counsel with Jack Denove and Shane Hapuarachy of Cheong Denove Rowell Bennett & Hapuarachy secured a $7,000,000.00 verdict against the City of Los Angeles for a woman who was hit by a vehicle while attempting to cross Vista Del Mar along Dockweiler beach in the City of Los Angeles.

Sexual Harassment Suit In a confidential settlement, the firm resolved a sexual harassment law suit for a female client due to allegations of workplace sexual harassment for total sum of $1,700.000.00.

Belaire v. UPS, Et. Al. William M. Paoli received a jury verdict in excess of $1,400,000.00 for an employee based on allegations of disability discrimination and failure to accommodate in the work place.

Robinson, Et Al. v. Murrieta Unified School District, Et Al. Partners William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy resolved, at the outset of trial, a premises liability case for a total of $1,375,000.00. This premises liability alleged that the Plaintiff sustained a head injury which has caused her significant related symptoms and disability after being struck by a concession stand security door on the premises of the Murrieta Valley High School. Her husband also made a loss of consortium claim based on how the injuries to his wife impacted him.

Fetzer et. al. v. Saferzadeh After a six week jury trial, and after withstanding a lengthy appeal filed by the Defendant, William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy resolved a landlord tenant dispute involving water intrusion and resulting severe and disabling injuries to a young girl for which the jury awarded both her and her father a total of $1,272,395.00, which included an award of punitive damages against the landlord.

Premise Liability

Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC and Jeffrey Greenman of Greenman Law, P.C. obtained an arbitration award in a premises liability case against Kaiser Foundation and its related affiliates for $1,237,724.00. This case stemmed from Plaintiff’s use of a handicap bathroom door at a Kaiser facility in Anaheim that Plaintiff claimed had not been installed per the ADA requirements thereby causing her to fall and injure her right arm which resulted in seven surgeries, infections and permanent injury. The Defense argued that there was nothing wrong with the forces to either open or close the bathroom door, that Plaintiff caused her injury and that the care was not related to the fall, if in fact it had even occurred as Plaintiff described . There was never any offer by the Defendant to resolve this matter before the arbitration.

Wrongful Death

William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $1,085,000.00 verdict for the wrongful death of an individual exposed to roofing chemicals and toxins while at the person’s place of employment. Initially, the firm represented the Plaintiff against the building owner, the roofing company and the sub-contractor hired for the job. The case evolved into a wrongful death matter when the client passed away from her injuries. Plaintiff’s efforts to prove both liability and causation against the Defendants were extensive and required the use of roofing and HVAC experts along with expert s in the areas of industrial hygiene, toxicology, and psychiatry.

Bath Faith Insurance Claim Settled William M. Paoli resolved a bad faith lawsuit concerning a disability insurance claim which had been rejected by our client’s insurance carrier. The policy was for $1,000,000.00 for which the insurance carrier added an extra $10,000.00 to compensate our client for interest incurred.

Traumatic Brain Injury

William M. Paoli of Paoli & Purdy, PC and Jeffrey Greenman of Greenman Law, P.C.

obtained a verdict of $1,000,000.00 for a client who was severely beaten by the security personnel of a nightclub. Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury which was severely disabling. The Defense argued that it was our client that incited the altercation and that he was the cause of his injuries. Video evidence obtained by our offices proved that argument to be wrong.

Breach of Contract Suit Settled In a confidential settlement, the firm resolved a breach of contract law suit related to a real estate investment for a total sum of $950,000.00.

Water Intrusion/Mold Paoli & Purdy represented an Orange County family who became ill as a result of exposure to toxic mold in their home. Case settled for a total of $900,000.00. Attorney Court B. Purdy (along with Co-Counsel) represented Melissa Celmer and her three boys (Jacob, Kyle and Casey) in a lawsuit against the former of their apartment complex (Robert and Helen Kotob of Los Angeles), the current owner of the complex (KDF North Hills of Orange County), the Property Manager (VPM Incorporated) and the Remediation Contractor (Rainbow Contractor, Inc. of Orange County).

McFarland v. Fulgham, Et Al. William M. Paoli resolved a motor vehicle accident case for a total of $865,000.00. The Plaintiff alleged that he was severely injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident which resulted in severe and debilitating orthopedic injuries which ultimately resulted in the plaintiff having to undergo surgical intervention. His wife also made a loss of consortium claim based on how the injuries to his wife impacted him.

Wrongful Death William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $750,000.00 confidential settlement for their heir of a man who died as the result of a tragic airplane accident.

Water Intrusion/Mold Case $550,000.00: Paoli & Purdy represented an Orange County woman who became seriously ill as result of exposure to toxic mold and other biological contaminants in her Huntington Beach home. Case settled for a total of $550,000.00. Paoli & Purdy represented Niko Black, in a lawsuit against the owner of her home located at 5061 Warner Ave., Unit C, Huntington Beach, California 92649. The home was rented to her by defendant South Warner Business Center (SWBC). As a result of lack if maintenance by SWBC and its agent, Ronald Hseuh (including a failure to inspect the premises and/or conduct preventive maintenance), the home suffered water damage and elevated levels of toxic mold growth which slowly poisoned Ms. Black, causing her to suffer significant and life- long personal injuries.

Rear End Automobile Collision Court B. Purdy resolved a motor vehicle accident case for a total of $537,500.00. The Plaintiff was severely injured as a result of a rear end motor vehicle accident which resulted in severe and debilitating orthopedic injuries which ultimately resulted in the plaintiff having to undergo surgical intervention.

Slip and Fall Court B. Purdy resolved a slip and fall case for a total of $500,000.00. The Plaintiff was severely injured as a result of a fall off some steps at a commercial store in Orange County which resulted in severe and debilitating orthopedic injuries which resulted in the plaintiff having to undergo surgical intervention and a lengthy rehabilitation.

Water Intrusion/Mold Case Court B. Purdy with the firm of Paoli, & Purdy, LLP, resolved a landlord tenant matter in which there was a claim for wrongful death as a result of exposure to the microbial contaminants within the home. The case was brought by the deceased surviving husband and two minor children.

Bustrum v. Hunter Court B. Purdy partially resolved a bicycle verses motor vehicle accident case for $300,000.00. The Plaintiff was severely injured including a closed head injury and broken bones as a result of an accident in which a motor vehicle struck her while she was operating a bicycle on Pacific Beach Highway in Newport Beach, CA.

Dog Bite William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $300,000.00 verdict for a young man bitten by a dog multiple times.

Motorcycle Accident

William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $290,000.00 verdict for a motorcyclist involved in an accident in which the investigating officer concluded that the Plaintiff was 100% at fault for causing the subject accident. The matter was resolved short of trial.

Water Intrusion/Mold Case In a confidential settlement, Court B. Purdy with the firm of Paoli, & Purdy, LLP, resolved a landlord tenant matter in which the sole Plaintiff alleged serious injury from exposure to mold and other contaminants in his rented apartment.

Pedestrian Accident William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $250,000.00 confidential settlement for a gentleman who injured his lower back as the resulte of being struck by a vehicle.

Water Intrusion

William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $225,000.00 verdict in a land lord tenant dispute involving water intrusion, contamination and mold growth which adversely impacted our client's health.

Water Intrusion/Mold

William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $200,000.00 verdict in a land lord tenant dispute involving water intrusion, contamination and mold growth which adversely impacted our client's health.

Water Intrusion/Mold

William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, PC secured a $125,000.00 verdict in a land lord tenant dispute involving water intrusion, contamination and mold growth which adversely impacted our client's health.