Jury Verdicts & Settlements

Latest jury verdicts, settlements, and legal outcome analysis

$18.4M Verdict Over Jeep Grand Cherokee Rollaway Defect

The legal battle began after a tragic accident at a Minnesota gas station left a man with a life-altering injury. On March 4, 2022, Jeffrey Wu shifted his 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee into what he believed was "park" to pump gasoline. Suddenly, the SUV slipped out of gear and rolled backward, crushing his left leg so severely that doctors had to perform an amputation. The lawsuit centered on a "park-to-reverse" design defect in the monostable gear shifter, which allegedly allowed for a "false park" position. A Dakota County jury found the vehicle defectively designed and awarded over $18 million in damages, while attributing 30% of the fault to the Plaintiff.

Personal Injury

Jury Rejects VW Seat Defect Claims After Rear-End Crash

In a significant products liability victory for the automotive industry, a San Francisco County jury determined that the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta met all reasonable safety expectations despite a seat collapse during a high-impact collision. Plaintiffs Gregory Shneyer and Alla Tripolsky alleged that a design flaw caused Shneyer’s seat to fail when his vehicle was struck from behind by a Ford F150. While the plaintiffs sought extensive damages for physical injuries and loss of consortium, the defense successfully argued that the vehicle complied with federal safety standards and that the severity of the impact—rather than a manufacturing defect—was the primary factor. The jury returned a complete defense verdict, finding no defect in the vehicle’s design or manufacture.

Wrongful Death

Jury Awards $329M in Fatal Florida Crash

On April 25, 2019, 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon was standing near a parked Chevrolet Tahoe in Key Largo, Florida, when she was struck and killed by a 2019 Tesla Model S traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour. The Tesla driver had engaged the vehicle’s "Autopilot" system and was distracted by his phone, relying on the technology to detect obstacles. The vehicle's sensors failed to recognize the stationary SUV, leading to a high-speed collision that also severely injured Dillon Angulo. The subsequent lawsuit alleged that Tesla’s Autopilot contained design defects, including a failure to adequately monitor driver engagement and detect stationary objects. In August 2025, a jury found Tesla 35% liable for the incident, determining that the vehicle was marketed with a defect that served as a legal cause of the damages.

Personal Injury

Jury Rejects Product Defect Claim in Highway Crash Case

In a high-stakes product liability battle, a Connecticut jury returned a defense verdict for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) following a catastrophic collision that left a passenger paralyzed. The case stemmed from an April 2016 incident where a 2014 Hino box truck overturned on Route 8 in Waterbury, only to be struck moments later by a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer. Schley M. Hunter, who was trapped inside the overturned vehicle during the second impact, sustained traumatic spinal cord injuries resulting in permanent quadriplegia. The Plaintiffs argued that the Freightliner was defectively designed because it lacked autonomous emergency braking and collision-avoidance systems that could have detected the stationary truck in the darkness. They further alleged that the vehicle's headlight illumination was insufficient for highway speeds. However, the defense successfully contended that the truck met all federal safety standards and that the collision resulted from environmental factors and driver timing rather than mechanical or design failure. On December 17, 2025, the jury found in favor of the Defendant, awarding no damages to the Plaintiffs.

Negligence

$4.4M Verdict Against Nutrien Ag in Pistachio Case

A Fresno County Superior Court jury awarded over $4.4 million in damages to M.C. Watte Ranches and Brian Watte Farms, finding Nutrien Ag Solutions primarily liable for the loss of their 2020 pistachio harvest. The jury determined that Nutrien Ag Solutions was negligent in its advice regarding the application of the insecticide imidacloprid, which resulted in residue levels exceeding legal safety tolerances and rendered the crops unmarketable. While the jury attributed 20% of the responsibility to the farming operation, they assigned 80% of the fault to Nutrien, awarding significant lost profits and pre-judgment interest to the growers.

Personal Injury

Yamaha ROPS Defect Paralysis Verdict: $26.3M Win

Justin Van Tussenbrook sued Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, Inc. and Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America after a 2016 Yamaha YXZ side-by-side vehicle rolled over in Utah, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down due to severe spinal cord damage. The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, claimed the vehicle's Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) had a design flaw that made it weak and caused it to crumple in the crash. Plaintiff's counsel argued Yamaha knew of the defect post-sale but negligently failed to issue a recall or retrofit. The defense blamed the crash on the driver's reckless driving (taking a sharp turn) and argued Van Tussenbrook knew the risks of off-road riding. The jury returned a special verdict on September 24, 2025, finding the Yamaha ROPS design substantially caused Van Tussenbrook's injuries and that the risks outweighed the benefits (design defect). They also found Yamaha negligent for failing to recall or retrofit after learning of the defect. Fault was apportioned 75% to Yamaha and 25% to the driver. The total damages awarded, prior to reduction for comparative fault, amounted to $26,333,476.67.

Personal Injury

$3M Verdict in Takata Airbag Injury Case in Florida

In the Florida case Jose Hernandez vs. PSAN PI/WD Trust (Case No. 2022-023625-CA-01), the Plaintiff alleged life-changing injuries after a defective Takata airbag inflator in his 2005 Honda Civic violently ruptured during a minor collision on December 13, 2020. The inflator exploded with excessive force, sending metal fragments into the vehicle cabin, including a large, sharp metal piece that pierced Mr. Hernandez’s right arm, causing permanent disability, disfigurement, and chronic pain. Mr. Hernandez filed suit in December 2022 against both the Takata compensation trust and the Miami-based Honda dealership involved with the vehicle. He sought damages for medical bills, lost earning ability, and significant non-economic losses such as lifelong pain, disability, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. After hearing extensive testimony and reviewing expert evidence regarding the defect and the severity of the injuries, the jury returned a verdict on May 1, 2025, siding with the Plaintiff. The jury awarded a total of $3,000,000 in non-economic damages, allocating $2,500,000 for past suffering and $500,000 for future suffering, recognizing the irreversible impact of the airbag failure on the Plaintiff’s daily life and physical abilities. The verdict reflects the ongoing legal fallout from one of the largest defective safety product scandals in automotive history and underscores accountability for manufacturers and distributors when safety mechanisms fail catastrophically.

Wrongful Death

Florida Jury Awards $20M in Johnson & Johnson Talc Case

A Broward County jury delivered a powerful verdict against Johnson & Johnson, finding its talc-based powders caused the fatal cancer of Dr. Alberto A. Casaretto Sr., a respected Fort Lauderdale nephrologist. The jury awarded $20 million in compensatory damages to his estate, holding the company accountable for asbestos contamination in its consumer products. The Casaretto family’s legal team argued that Johnson & Johnson concealed the dangers of asbestos in its talc for decades, prioritizing profits over safety. The verdict stands as a landmark in Florida’s ongoing talc litigation, reinforcing corporate accountability for hidden product risks.

Products Liability

$966M Verdict: J&J Liable in Mae Moore Talc Case

In Mae K. Moore v. Johnson & Johnson, an 88-year-old California woman’s family won a landmark $966 million verdict after a Los Angeles jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for her death from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mae Moore used Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower daily for decades, unaware of contamination risks. Evidence revealed the company knew for years that its talc products could contain asbestos but continued marketing them as safe. The jury found Johnson & Johnson negligent, guilty of fraud, and acting with malice by concealing the health hazards. It awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages, marking the largest single-plaintiff verdict against the company in talc litigation history. Johnson & Johnson denied wrongdoing and announced plans to appeal, maintaining its powders were asbestos-free. The verdict, however, stands as a defining moment in nationwide talc lawsuits and a warning to corporations accused of consumer deception.