Results: Premises Liability

Darla L. v. Southland LLC
$2.25 million

In April 2000, Klein & Wilson won a verdict of $2.25 million in a premises liability action stemming from a sexual assault of a tenant of a residential apartment complex. This was one of the largest verdicts of its kind in California.

Doe v. Roe Mall
$290,000

In 2000, Klein & Wilson represented a 37-year-old man who slipped and fell in a shopping mall. The man suffered a severely broken leg, two surgeries, and a disputed loss of wages. The case was settled prior to trial for $290,000.

Turley v. Steaven Jones Development
$200,000

Klein & Wilson's client broke her wrist after tripping over stairs which were not constructed pursuant to California Building Code requirements. Defendants vehemently denied liability and refused to pay anything. At arbitration, Klein & Wilson's client was awarded almost $200,000.

Wilson v. Jefferson Hotel
$115,000

Mr. Wilson represented plaintiff in an action against the world famous Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. Mr. Wilson's client had one of her fingers partially amputated when a defective window fell on it. The hotel denied liability. Mr. Wilson obtained a videotape reenacting the accident, proving the window malfunctioned. The hotel refused to pay anything. At arbitration, Mr. Wilson's client recovered $115,000.

Gutierrez v. Norris Cylinder
(Settlement)

This case involved a nationally reported tragic accident where two Metrorail workers were seriously burned and another worker seriously injured when an acetylene tank manufactured by Klein & Wilson's client exploded. Klein & Wilson retained the world's leading expert on acetylene cylinders and presented a case indicating that other defendants and the plaintiffs themselves were primarily responsible for the accident. Recognizing damages could easily exceed $20 million, Klein & Wilson conducted mock trials and learned that ordinary jurors would hold other defendants responsible for the accident, not Klein & Wilson's client. Armed with these mock trials, Klein & Wilson entered into an imaginative "Mary Carter" settlement with plaintiffs, which allowed Klein & Wilson's client to settle the case for less than the costs of defense. The remaining defendants went to trial and ultimately paid plaintiffs approximately $15 million.

Turner v. Century Insulation, et al.

Klein & Wilson represented two subcontractors in a case where the plaintiff sought over $1 million for an injury he said left him permanently disabled.  The court dismissed both of Klein & Wilson's clients from the case after Klein & Wilson proved the plaintiff filed his claim beyond the two year statute of limitations.