The following are settlements and jury verdicts that have been achieved by our personal injury trial attorneys. *

• $135 million verdict for alcohol liability lawsuit involving a multibillion-dollar international food and beverage company that sells beer at Giants Stadium. The company sold alcohol to a visibly drunk fan, who later caused a car accident that paralyzed a 7-year old girl. This case was later remanded by the appellate court, and subsequently settled prior to a new trial. 
  
  Click here click here to read various stories around the nation about this landmark verdict.

• $80 million class action settlement against auto manufacturers Volkswagen and Audi.  Volkswagen and Audi agreed to pay out more than $80 million to settle a pair of class action lawsuits over leaky sunroofs and faulty drainage systems involving 3 million automobiles built between 1997 and 2009.  The settlement was approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz.

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• $39 million class action settlement.  Sutter v. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Physician Class Action settlement.  Under the settlement agreement, Horizon BCBSNJ has committed to implement significant business practice improvements related to physicians to increase transparency in payment of claims, reduce administrative overhead, and improve interactions between the health plan and physicians. These improvements will help enhance the efficiency and quality of the health care delivery system in New Jersey.

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• $15.75 million settlement of accounting malpractice case.   This case involved allegations that malpractice by an accounting firm resulted in erroneous financial statements, which allegedly allowed an insolvent company to continue in business.   The case settled for $15.75 million, which brought the total recovery by our law firm in litigation relating to the insolvent company to $25 million.  

• $15.3 million verdict against insurance company. This was a case in which an insurance carrier declined to pay multiple settlements against a single eye surgeon. Following a two week trial, the trial judge ruled that the insurance carrier, Princeton Insurance Company, had to pay the settlements.

Click here to read the full article.   The verdict was later reversed on appeal and remanded for further proceedings. 

• $14.7 million personal injury settlement.   In this case the plaintiff suffered Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, as well as peroneal nerve dysfunction, as a result of a car running over his foot.

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• $12 million medical malpractice verdict for death of 21 year old man after having wisdom teeth removed.     This case involved medical malpractice committed by an oral surgeon whose negligence resulted in the death of a 21-year old man within 12 hours after having his wisdom teeth removed.    The oral surgeon knew that his patient had an immunity disorder which precluded any surgery or other dental work, yet performed the procedure anyway.    A Middlesex County jury returned a verdict in favor of the man's family.   With interest, the jury's verdict will exceed $12 million.  It is believed that this is the largest oral surgery malpractice verdict in New Jersey and one of the largest in the U.S. history. 

   

  Click here to read the full article reported in the New Jersey Star Ledger.

  

  Click here to read the press release. 

   

   
• $10 million jury verdict for failure to provide police protection.  Action brought on behalf of a young child who was severely burned by a Molotov Cocktail explosive device that was thrown into the bedroom of his family’s apartment by an unapprehended perpetrator. The jury awarded $10,000,000. in compensatory and punitive damages, which award was reduced by the trial judge to $2,400,000. and affirmed on appeal. The jury found that the police broke their promise to the victim’s family to put surveillance on their home on the night of the attack in order to catch the perpetrator in light of prior similar  incidents and pending threats against a family member.

• $9.7 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case on behalf of a man who suffered a severe pelvic injury while donating bone marrow. The jury awarded this amount after a one-week trial against the two hematologist-oncologists who performed the operation. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge to $1.4 million, based on the judge’s finding that the jury award was so high that it shocked the judicial conscience. The case then settled for an undisclosed amount.

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• $7.8 million settlement of a product liability lawsuit involving a defective ride at an amusement park which resulted in the deaths of two persons. The case involved claims that the ride was improperly designed and manufactured, which resulted in our two clients being ejected from it. The case settled for the sum of $7.8 million.
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• $7.25 million settlement for professional malpractice involving claims against actuaries of an insolvent insurance company. The case involved claims brought by the New Jersey Banking & Insurance Department on behalf of an insolvent New Jersey insurance company against the company's outside actuaries. The Complaint alleged that the insurance company relied on its outside actuaries to calculate how much money it should set aside for property and casualty reserves, but that the calculations were too low resulting in the insurance company sustaining substantial losses. The case settled for $7.25 million after mediation on February 11, 2005.
  
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• $6 million dolllar settlement for a bus accident. This was a case involving a pedestrian who was run over by a school bus. As a result of the bus accident, our client suffered severe spinal injuries. The bus driver claimed that our client ran out in front of the bus. Through our efforts, we were able to get the bus driver to admit that she lied to the police and that she caused the accident. This bus accident case settled for $6 million dollars.
  
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Click here to read the press release.

• $5 million settlement for wrongful death resulting from automobile accident. This was a case involving an automobile accident in which a child was killed in front of her family. The case settled prior to trial for the sum of $5 million. The identities of the parties and the specifics of the claims are  confidential pursuant to the settlement agreement.
  
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• $4.8 million legal malpractice settlement. Fortunato vs. Kranitz Comparet & Sarrow. This was a legal malpractice action filed against a law firm relating to its issuance of erroneous legal opinion letters to a surety bond company. As a result of the erroneous opinion letters, our client issued surety bonds for real estate limited partnerships. The claims ultimately settled for $4.8 million in cash payments and withdrawn claims against our client’s liquidating estate.
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• $4.7 million dollar product liability for burn injuries. This case involves claims that the defendants sold and marketed a defective product which caused extensive burns to our client. The product liability allegations were that the defendants’ light was inappropriate for sale to a commercial automotive repair shop. The defective product ignited gasoline which caused extensive burn injuries to our client. This product liability/burn case settled for $4.7 million dollars.
  
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• 4.15 million settlement for brain injury. This was a case where plaintiff claimed to have suffered a brain injury after a hutch fell on him while he was on his desk at work.  The defense experts claimed there was no brain injury, but that the plaintiff's symptoms were all psychosomatic.  Just prior to trial, the defendant settled the case for the sum of $4.15 million.  Once again, the firm has achieved one of New Jersey's top 20 verdicts/settlements for the year.  

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• $3.5 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case on behalf of a nurse who was not advised by the hospital that employed her that she had been infected with the Hepatitis C virus while treating a patient, resulting in delayed treatment. The jury awarded this amount against the hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge, based on the judge’s finding that the jury award was so high that it shocked the judicial conscience. 

• $3.5 million settlement for medical malpractice. This was a case involving failure to diagnose an arterial occlusion that resulted in the patient sustaining a paralyzing stroke. The treating physicians erroneously concluded that the patient was suffering from a pinched nerve, when instead the patient was having a transient ischemic attack (TIA). If treated properly, the patient would not have suffered a stroke. After four days of trial the case settled for $3.5 million.

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• $3.25 million settlement in commercial lease dispute. This is a confidential settlement, therefore the details cannot be disclosed.

• $3.1 million settlement with City of Newark for dangerous condition of roadway.   This was a case in which a woman's car veered off a Newark roadway due to its dangerous condition, resulting in the woman's tragic drowning death; this occurred four months after another fatal accident at the same location.  This case was brought under New Jersey's restrictive Tort Claims Act.

• $3.18 million settlement for Passaic River car drowning.  This was a case in which a car veered off a dangerous curve on Raymond Boulevard in Newark, New Jersey, and plunged into the Passaic River.  The occupants drowned when the car sunk in the river.  This settlement was paid by the City of Newark on behalf of the estate of one of the women who drowned in the car. 

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• $3 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case involving a death of a 40 year old man which was caused by medical malpractice by two physicians at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. After a two-week trial, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded $3 million in damages.  On appeal, the Appellate Division affirmed the verdict.
  
  Click here to read the full article about the verdict.
  Click here to read the full article about the appeal.                              
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• $2.7 million settlement of a high profile case involving police brutality.  Faison vs. Orange. This was a wrongful death case in which our client was beaten by the police an ultimately died while in their custody. The case was extensively covered by the New Jersey Star Ledger, the Bergen Record and in various local newspapers and television reports, and has been described as one of the infamous police brutality cases in New Jersey history.
  
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• $2.5 million legal malpractice jury verdict. Integrity vs. Herzfeld & Rubin. This case involved claims of legal malpractice against Herzfeld & Rubin, a well known Park Avenue law firm. The claims related to Herzfeld & Rubin's negligence in issuing an opinion letter which our client relied upon in entering into a limited partnership real estate transaction. After a six week jury trial, we obtained a $2.5 million verdict on behalf of our client.
  
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• $2.4 million judgment for breach of employment contract.  Liss vs. Federal Insurance Co.  This was a case in which a business company executive claimed his former company breached his employment contract by refusing to redeem his interest in the business when he resigned.  

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• $2.1 million Lasik malpractice settlement against celebrity physician Dr. Joseph Dello Russo.  Dell'Ermo vs. New Jersey Eye Center, and Joseph Dello Russo, M.D. This was a case in which we received a $2. million settlement for claims brought by a 47-year old man who was rendered legally blind due to the medical malpractice committed by prominent physician Dr. Joseph Dello Russo arising out of Lasik surgery.  This is believed to be the largest Lasik malpractice recovery in New Jersey history, and one of the largest in the nation's history.  

Click here to read the full article reported in the New Jersey Star Ledger online edition at NJ.com.
 

Click here to read the press release.

 

 

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• $2 million director and officer liability settlement. Suter v. AON Corp. This was a lawsuit filed against the former officers and directors of a property and casualty insurance company which was placed in liquidation. The case involved allegations of gross negligence and breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the former directors and officers, primarily with respect to a shell company which was set up to misdirect funds from the insurance company. There were also claims relating to the defendants' handling of other transactions which resulted in losses. The case settled for the sum of $2 million.
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• $2 million construction site accident settlement. Irwin vs. Six Flags Great Adventure. This was a construction site accident case in which our client was severely injured after part of an unsecured amusement ride fell and injured him.  The case settled for the sum of $2 million. 

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• $1.9 million product liability jury verdict. Fillebrown vs. Steelcase. This was a product liability lawsuit involving a defective chair which broke while the plaintiff was sitting on it. The case involved sophisticated issues of metallurgy and economics concerning our client’s ability to work in the future.

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• $1.9 million settlement of a claim for wrongful death from electrocution.   This is a confidential settlement, details cannot be disclosed.

• $1.85 million settlement for inadequate security, premises liability. This is a confidential settlement, details cannot be disclosed.

• $1.8 million products liability settlement. Aspras vs. Deerpath. This was a case involving a defective clamp on scaffolding used by the plaintiff, a union painter. The theory of the case was that the clamp was metallurgically defective, which resulted in the plaintiff falling and becoming injured. The painter ultimately had three surgeries on his back. We were was able to obtain summary judgment as to liability as against all defendants. This resulted in a settlement of $1.8 million.

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• $1.8 million commercial litigation settlement. Integrity vs. Pollack. This was a lawsuit relating to breach of the defendant’s guarantee relating to the construction of a Hilton Hotel in Las Crucas, New Mexico. Settlement was achieved after we obtained a judgment against the defendant, and docketed that judgment in Michigan. The settlement included $300,000 to compensate our client for legal fees and expenses.
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• $1.75 million settlement of a medical malpractice action. Van Wyk vs. Zamecki. This was a medical malpractice case in which our client, a 71 year old woman, became a paraplegic shortly after a hip replacement operation. We argued that the defendant anesthesiologist allowed the plaintiff’s blood pressure to fall too low during the operative procedure, thus resulting in permanent damage to the nerves in her spine. The case ultimately settled for the sum of $1.75 million after the presentation of all proofs and prior to closing arguments at trial.

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• $1.63 million settlement for automobile accident. Driver, who was disabled at time of two car collision, suffered severe injuries and exacerbation of  pre-existing conditions.

• $1.6 million verdict for train derailment. This was a case in which a man was a passenger on a New Jersey Transit train that derailed. The man suffered the aggravation of a preexisting neck condition, and psychiatric injuries.

• $1.5 million arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice. This was a case in which a woman underwent Lasik surgery to correct her vision. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.  The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues, and remanded for further proceedings. 
  
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• $1.4 million legal malpractice settlement. Wiggins vs. Flanzblau Dratch. This was a legal malpractice settlement against a law firm relating to its failure to timely and properly file a lawsuit against another law firm for legal malpractice. The case involved a number of cutting edge theories relating to the law of legal malpractice, and was described by the Judge on the record, "as intriguing a case as I can recall". The case settled for $1.4 million.
  
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• $1.4 million settlement for wrongful death. This is a case which was brought against a utility and a tree service for failing to properly maintain a tree which ultimately fell and killed a motorist. After completing discovery and litigating the case, the claims were settled for $1.4 million.
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• $1.4 million verdict for vicious dog attack. Reynolds vs. Guard Dogs Unlimited. We obtained a $1.3 million award for his client, a victim of a vicious dog attack. This personal injury case involved claims of negligence and fraud against Lancaster County Prison relating to their transfer of a vicious rottweiler to the plaintiff. Lancaster County Prison had failed to advise the plaintiff that the dog had "irreversible medical problems" and had attacked on numerous previous occasions. Shortly after taking possession of the dog, our client was viciously attacked and sustained injuries to his arm and leg. After a three week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $1.3 million in plaintiffs' favor.
  
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• $1.4 million nursing malpractice settlement.  This is a case involving brain injury caused by nursing malpractice.  The details of the case and the settlement are confidential.

• $1.375 million settlement for negligent security and supervision.   In this case a man smuggled heroin into a penal treatment center, and overdosed.  He was not discovered promptly and as a result of the delay in treatment, suffered non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, hypoxia, and severe neurologic injuries.

• $1.35 million settlement of a legal malpractice case. In this case we sued a law firm for committing legal malpractice with regard to several loan transactions. The claims included failure to file a mortgage, failure to perform a title search, drafting promissory notes containing usurious interest rates, and conflict of interest in secretly representing a debtor, while collection proceedings were pending against that person. The case ultimately settled for a lump sum payment of $1.35 million.
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• $1.25 million settlement for medical malpractice/wrongful death. This was a settlement of a medical malpractice death case against a New Jersey doctor. Taglieri v. Moss. We established that the New Jersey doctor committed malpractice by causing our client to become addicted to prescription drugs such as Tylox, Percocet, Oxycotin and Soma, and kept him addicted for fifteen years, until his death. We obtained summary judgment on liability, and the case settled at trial for $1.25 million.
  
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• $1.1 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case on behalf of a woman who underwent extensive surgery for ovarian cancer that had spread throughout her pelvis and abdomen, and had a laparotomy pad left in her abdomen at the end of the operation.  The woman suffered infection, developed an enterocutaneous fistula, and died four months later, as a result.

• $1.2 million settlement for product liability. This is a confidential settlement, the details cannot be disclosed.

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• $1.2 million settlement for legal malpractice. This is a confidential settlement reached during trial, details cannot be disclosed.

• $1.2 million settlement through mediation for brain injury. Suit brought on behalf of a young man apprehended by a group of teenagers on Mischief Night. The melee that followed caused the young man to strike his head on pavement sustaining permanent brain injury.

• $1.15 million settlement for wrongful death of truck driver. Suit brought on behalf of truck driver, struck and fatally injured by passing automobile, while standing outside truck parked on shoulder of road.

• $1.05 million arbitration award for Ophthalmological malpractice.  This was a case in which a woman was not properly instructed regarding the signs of impending retinal detachment, following Lasik surgery. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.  The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues.   On remand, the case was settled for a confidential amount at the time of trial.

• $1 million arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice. This was a case in which a woman suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were improperly treated. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.  The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues.   On remand, the case settled prior to trial for $821,000.

• $1 million RSD/shoulder injury slip and fall settlement

• $1 million verdict for a client who claimed to be part of a multi-million dollar lottery pool.  Marinelli v. Avalone.  In this case our client claimed that she was part of a co-worker lottery pool which ultimately won a $33 million lottery prize.  The rest of the participants in the pool denied that our client was a participant.  What made the case so difficult was that our client had never paid for her share of the pool, although she testified that she was told she could pay after the lottery drawing. We won the case at trial, with the judge finding that our client was entitled to one full share of the lottery winnings. This resulted in a lottery share of approximately $1 million for our client.  The case was the subject of significant news coverage by television, radio and newspapers.

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Click here to read the article about the appeal.
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• $1 million commercial litigation settlement.  This was a derivative action claim against a public corporation relating to the corporate president’s mismanagement and misdeeds. The claim ultimately settled in exchange for a cash payment of $1 million. The identities of the parties were made confidential by virtue of a confidentiality agreement.
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• $1 million medical malpractice settlement for botched hernia surgery.    This was a case in which a doctor agreed to pay his entire $1 million professional liability insurance policy to settle a legal malpractice claim involving laparoscopic hernia surgery performed on Mr. Mazie's client, a 62 year old engineer.  The surgeon lost control of the tool he was using to perform the surgery, cut the abdominal wall, severed the renal vein and injured the aorta.   Mr. Mazie's client, who almost died as a result of the doctor's negligence, required two months of intensive care, needed rehabilitation and corrective surgery, and was no longer able to work.

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• $950,000 settlement in a construction site accident case. This was a construction site accident case in which we obtained a $950,000 settlement on behalf of his client who was severely injured while assisting in the unloading of concrete sewerage pipes off of a tractor trailer. As part of the case, we sued the general contractor of the project for violations of job site safety, as well as the trucking company which loaded and transported the pipes. The case ultimately settled for $950,000. The identities of the defendants were withheld as part of a confidentiality agreement.
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• $950,000 confidential settlement for failure to diagnose breast cancer.   This was a  case in which the client had a lump in her breast.  Our client claimed that the doctor had told her that the lump was normal.  The doctor countered by producing a copy of a referral form to a breast specialist that he claimed to have given the client.  The case settled before trial for $950,000.

• $910,000 verdict for woman injured on waterslide. This was a case in which a woman injured her coccyx on a waterslide. The trial judge threw out the entire verdict, finding that the amount was so high it shocked the judicial conscience. On appeal, the Appellate Division reinstated $400,000 of the verdict.

• $900,000 arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice.  This was a case in which a man suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were not properly treated.   The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues.  On remand, the case settled prior to trial for $800,000.

• $900,000 settlement for ophthalmology malpractice.  This was a case involving claims that an opthomologist committed medical malpractice during a routine surgical procedure to remove a sty.  Our client became blind in his left eye following the procedure.  The case settled prior to trial for $900,000.
  
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• $900,000 settlement of a legal malpractice case. This was a case involving claims against two law firms for negligently failing to file spousal battery claims before the expiration of the statute of limitations, and for failing to advise the client concerning her legal rights against her ex-husband. The case settled at the start of trial for the sum of $900,000.
  
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• $890,000 slip and fall jury verdict.  Noble vs. Extra Supermarket. We obtained this award on behalf of the estate of an 80 year old man who died after slipping on ice in the parking lot of a supermarket.
  
  Click here to read the full article published in the New Jersey Law Journal.
  Click here to read the full article published in the Newark Star Ledger.
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• $850,000 Broker malpractice settlement.  Randall vs. Brunell Kramer Waldor Agency. This was a case involving claims of broker malpractice which resulted in damages to a surety bond company. The claims involved deficient underwriting by the defendant in acting as plaintiff’s managing general agent, in the issuance of various surety bonds for construction projects located throughout New Jersey. The case settled for $850,000 after the close of all evidence and prior to the completion of closing arguments
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• $850,000 Lasik malpractice settlement against renowned physician Dr. Joseph Dell Russo. Donnelly v. Joseph Dell Russo, M.D. This was a case in which we received an $850,000 settlement for claims brought by a banker who suffered severe vision loss in one eye due to the medical malpractice committed by prominent physician Dr. Joseph Dello Russo arising out of Lasik surgery.

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* Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.  Because every case is different, the descriptions of awards and cases previously handled are not meant to be a guarantee of success.