The following is a condensed sampling of the top personal injury verdicts and settlements as published in Northwest Personal Injury Reports.

AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY

   In a pedestrian accident against the City of Fife and Def. Pint,  Plff decedent was killed by a pick-up driven by Def. Pint.  Def. Fife had constructed city-approved modifications to the roadway where decedent was struck.  The modifications allowed standing water to accumulate and prevented it from draining.  The large accumulation of standing water was a hazard that obscured the painted fog-line that separated the right-of-way between vehicle and pedestrian travel.  PLAINTIFF VERDICT for $2,750,000.  Def. Fife was found 80% at fault and Def.  Pint 20%.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY

   The 42-year-old educator contended that Def. College fired him from his job as Athletic Director/Basketball coach, citing as its reason a sanction issued by the Northwest Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC).   Plff contended that Def. misled the NWAACC, withholding important information regarding the circumstances under which the sanction arose.  Plff contended that Def. first orchestrated the NWACC sanction and then used it as an excuse to discharge him and ultimately defamed Plff in the media and educational community.  Plff claimed injuries of emotional distress; anxiety and damage to reputation.  The twelve-person jury found that the Def. discriminated on the basis of race against Plff, an African-American, discharged him in violation of public policy and committed defamation of character resulting in a PLAINTIFF VERDICT for $2,006,375. 

STATE & DSHS LIABILITY

   Several cases have been tried recently against the State of Washington and DSHS resulting in record verdict/settlements.  In the case of Beckman, et al v. State of Washington, DSHS, et al, three developmentally disabled men all with an IQ of less than 60 were beaten, raped and tortured in a state licensed adult family home resulting in a record verdict of $17,800,000.

   In Caulfield v. State of Washington, DSHS & Kitsap County Plaintiff Caulfield received $2,616,000 for the gross neglect and abandonment he suffered while receiving benefits from State, DSHS & Kitsap County under the COPES program.  Plff was severely neglected by his caretaker resulting in gaping bedsores, which cut to the bone and caused severe delusions/hallucinations requiring 28 days of hospitalization.  Plff can no longer ambulate in any manner whatsoever, and only move two fingers and must be moved every two hours of the day by nursing assistants.

   In David v. State of Washington, DSHS, et al Plff received a settlement for $9,000,000 for the abuse and neglect she was subjected to while receiving benefits from Defs.  For 13 years, between 1984-1997 Plff was profoundly disfigured, beaten, and tortured suffering extensive irreversible brain damage as a result of the injuries she sustained while under her husband’s care (her state approved care provider.)   

PRODUCT LIABILITY

   A 17-year-old high school student received a settlement for $1,250,000 for paraplegia following a diving accident in a friend’s backyard pool.  The pool was a type II hopper bottom pool that had been shortened 4 feet in length to meet city code.   Plaintiffs contended that the design of the hopper bottom pool was unsafe.  The pool designer/installer paid $1,000,000 of the settlement, while the liner manufacturer paid $250,000.