Trial Results

The Wood Smith Henning & Berman Orlando trial team recently delivered a significant victory for a national home builder, obtaining three separate summary judgment rulings that resulted in a complete dismissal of all claims in a premises liability action in which the plaintiff demanded a seven-figure settlement.

The Wood Smith Henning & Berman team led by Senior Counsel Sean Patel and Partner Chris Seusing, recently secured a voluntary dismissal in a significant pixel class action filed against one of the largest credit unions in Indiana and Michigan. The lawsuit alleged improper data sharing using website tracking technology.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is happy to report that Senior Counsel Sean Patel and Partner Chris Seusing successfully secured a voluntary dismissal on behalf of a major health care provider operating in Arizona and Texas, bringing a swift and favorable resolution to a recently filed data breach lawsuit.

In a complex case led by Senior Counsel Sean Patel, Wood Smith Henning & Berman secured a voluntary dismissal of a class action lawsuit filed against one of the largest healthcare providers in Arizona following a third-party data breach.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP (WSHB) is pleased to announce a significant victory obtained by Senior Counsel Arthur Rushforth, who successfully secured an order enforcing a settlement agreement in a contentious New York case involving a self-represented (pro se) plaintiff.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP successfully defended a complex, high-profile lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, where the plaintiff — a former investigative journalist known for undercover work on terrorism, Chinese espionage, and political scandals — claimed his archive, allegedly worth more than $30 million, was wrongfully destroyed by an apartment complex.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP (WSHB) is proud to announce a significant defense victory in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where Partner Andrew Kessler and Senior Associate Lauren McDowell successfully secured summary judgment in a complex medical malpractice matter brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is proud to announce a major defense victory in Harris County, Texas, where partner Spencer Dunn and associate Grace Cousins obtained a motion for summary judgment (MSJ) on behalf of a trucking company and its driver in a hotly contested personal injury case.

Following a hard-fought five-week jury trial, a Rancho Cucamonga jury returned a full defense verdict in a multi-million product liability trial.  Wood Smith Henning & Berman trial partner Jade Tran together with Ashley Beagle successfully obtained a full defense verdict in favor of their client following a complex jury trial involving allegations of product liability and negligence.

Led by partner Alicia Kennon and senior associate Illise Schulman, Wood Smith Henning & Berman successfully obtained a defense judgment in favor of its clients following a two-day court trial involving allegations of professional negligence in the preparation, administration, and management of a residential fumigation.

In a protracted and hard-fought legal battle, Partner Andrew Kessler and Senior Counsel Sarah Connor of WSHB achieved a decisive victory on behalf of a non-profit mental health provider and its licensed professionals. The team successfully secured summary judgment against an aggressive pro se plaintiff, bringing years of contentious litigation to a close.

In a hard-fought trial in one of Florida’s most plaintiff-friendly venues, an Orlando jury rejected a $1.42 million damages claim, awarding just $95,458.06 to the plaintiff after finding him 40% at fault for his own injuries.

In a powerful one-two punch, Wood Smith Henning & Berman secured consecutive wins in Connecticut premises liability cases, each supervised by Partner Kate Adams, delivering complete dismissals of claims targeting property management clients. The victories involved two separate contentious pieces of litigation: one stemming from an alleged vicious dog attack inside a tenant's apartment, and another involving a serious injury allegedly caused by a defective sidewalk ramp. Both cases were successfully resolved at the motion stage, sparing the firm's clients the cost and risk of trial. The winning motions were argued by attorney Kendra McGuire and Senior Counsel Megan Michaud, respectively, who both effectively advocated their clients' positions before Connecticut Superior Court judges.

In a significant and hard-fought win, Wood Smith Henning & Berman successfully defended a major corporation in a lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court. The team, composed of Senior Counsel Caitlin Mitchell and Associate Adriana Valdez, persuaded the court to grant a forum non conveniens motion and dismiss the case in favor of adjudication in South Africa, where the underlying incident occurred. The plaintiffs, two of whom reside in California, sued in the state, citing defendant's principal place of business in San Francisco. Despite the steep odds, the court agreed the case belonged elsewhere.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman partners Frances O'Meara and Mindy Bae have secured two significant victories defeating claims brought under California's Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA), a statute that has rapidly emerged as a major source of high-volume, high-risk litigation targeting landlords and property management companies.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is happy to announce a significant defense victory in King County Superior Court led by partner Jackie Jensen Erler. The court granted summary judgment in favor of WSHB's employer client, dismissing a premises injury lawsuit brought by a former employee. The plaintiff alleged injuries from a fall, but the court found the employer owed no actionable duty to the plaintiff due to the location where the fall occurred.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is proud to report a decisive litigation victory on behalf of its clients, the property owners and manager of a historic building in New York City. Partner John Cofresi and Senior Counsel David Incle's legal prowess as well as exceptional motion briefing led to a complete dismissal of all claims in this multi-plaintiff action arising from a catastrophic ceiling collapse that exposed the defendants to more than $10 million in potential liability.

In a major legal victory showcasing the success of strategic risk transfer, WSHB attorneys, Senior Associate Matthew Lavoie and Senior Counsel Brad Sessa, successfully secured summary judgment against three third-party defendants in a high-exposure Labor Law case. The court's 26-page decision also dismissed all cross and counter claims, fully validating the firm's risk transfer strategy and contractual interpretation.

WSHB is thrilled to announce that after a three-week jury trial in Kern County, a jury returned an extremely favorable verdict in favor of our client. The client and the carrier are extremely pleased with the result. The case was handled by partner Summit Dhillon over the last four years, with support from trial expert and fellow partner David Webster.

In a sweeping courtroom win in one of the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in the country, Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP secured a big win for its clients- a condominium ownership group and homeowner association (HOA)- in a high-stakes fraud trial stemming from a disputed real estate transaction.

In a significant win for WSHB, partner Ryan Schoeb and associate Jonathan Garvin successfully obtained an order of dismissal in a high-exposure negligent security case stemming from a shooting at a commercial shopping center in Miami, Florida. The plaintiff, who was left paralyzed from the waist down after the incident, alleged that he was shot during a robbery gone wrong while on the property owned and managed by the client.

Led by partners Michelle Birtja and David Rubaum, Wood Smith Henning & Berman secured an excellent outcome for an orthopedic surgeon client following arbitration in a contentious medical malpractice case. The matter centered on allegations that a total right hip revision in 2019 was negligently performed, specifically regarding the surgeon's decision to retain some of the hardware over the course of five surgeries.

WSHB proudly announces another significant trial victory, achieved by partner Ryan Schoeb, who successfully defended a large commercial property owner and property manager in a high-stakes negligence suit. The trial, held in Palm Beach County, Florida, culminated in a directed verdict, effectively dismissing the plaintiff's claim during jury proceedings.

WSHB is proud to announce that a Harris County District Court granted summary judgment in favor of the client, a real estate development company, dismissing all claims in a premises liability lawsuit alleging permanent injury. This decisive victory comes amid a sharp rise in nuclear verdicts, jury awards exceeding $10 million, in Harris County and across Texas.

In a high-stakes liability case, WSHB delivered a decisive summary judgment victory, protecting its client from a meritless claim and underscoring the power of precision litigation strategy.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is proud to share a successful motion for summary judgment for its client in a dental malpractice suit. Led by New York partner Jeremy Chen, the case involved allegations of pain, neuralgia, bone loss and infection stemming from the removal of a dental implant, the preparation for the placement of a new implant and subsequent treatment. The court ruled in favor of our client, granting summary judgment on the grounds that Plaintiff's claims were time-barred under New York's statute of limitations.

In a remarkable culmination of legal perseverance, trial attorney Philip Grennan of Wood Smith Henning & Berman (WSHB) triumphed in a fiercely contested racial discrimination trial that spanned over two grueling months. Described by Grennan as “the craziest and most challenging trial I’ve ever had in 40 years of practice,” this case underscores the exceptional dedication and expertise that WSHB brings to its clients.

A federal judge in Arizona has dismissed a data breach class action, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing and failed to state a claim despite multiple attempts to amend their complaint. The Wood Smith Henning & Berman defense team comprised of partners Chris Seusing, John Darminio, and senior associate Sean Patel, successfully defended the client in this multi-faceted and complex case. The decision was not only a critical victory for the client, but also serves as important precedent, reinforcing that courts can and will strike class allegations at the pleading stage, an action they have historically been reluctant to take.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman obtained a decisive victory for a large financial institution in a data breach class action, leading to the voluntary dismissal of the case in Nebraska State Court. The lawsuit, which alleged violations of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), was withdrawn after the WSHB team, consisting of partner Chris Seusing and senior associate Sean Patel, demonstrated that the named plaintiff was not an adequate class representative.

WSHB is celebrating a significant legal victory after partner Vanessa Herzog and associate Taylor Stewart successfully secured a motion for summary judgment in favor of the client, a well-known gym. The victory resulted in the dismissal of all claims including negligence, premises liability, and gross negligence.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is proud to share a hard-fought victory for the defense, with senior counsel Megan Michaud successfully arguing a motion for summary judgment in a complex premises liability case. The outcome is particularly noteworthy given the challenges of prevailing on summary judgment in negligence cases, especially given the serious nature of the plaintiff's alleged injuries.

In a high-stakes personal injury case involving multiple alleged defendants and complex discovery battles, the legal team at Wood Smith Henning & Berman, led by partner Keith Smith, secured a decisive resolution in favor of the client on the footsteps of the courthouse just prior to the commencement of trial. The defense successfully dismantled the plaintiff's claim resolving the original $1.5 million claim to a settlement of only $50,000, and less than a previously issued 998 offer to compromise in the case.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman proudly announce another trial victory achieved by partner Ryan Schoeb and senior associate Olivia Rosenthal, who successfully defended a local construction company in a negligence suit, culminating in an involuntary dismissal during a bench trial

Wood Smith Henning & Berman announces a significant victory in a case involving a fraudulent accident at a work site. Senior associate, Megan McDonough, successfully secured a stipulation of discontinuance with prejudice after uncovering critical evidence that revealed false claims made by the plaintiff about an alleged workplace accident.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is proud to announce a significant victory in a highly contentious lead paint action. Partner Bolam Kim and senior associate Lauren Davies successfully defeated the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on liability and prevailed on a cross motion to dismiss the claims against the individual defendants.

WSHB is proud to announce that after a hard-fought trial, partner Ryan Hicks secured a complete defense verdict in the 21st Judicial District Court of Colorado. The case involved allegations of fraud and breach of contract against a residential home inspector following two pre-purchase inspections. Thanks to Hicks skillful trial strategy, compelling presentation of the evidence, and artful cross-examination, the court ruled entirely in favor of the defense, exonerating the firm's client on all claims.

Demonstrating legal expertise and strategic precision, the Chicago office of WSHB secured a significant victory in a contentious slip-and-fall case, winning summary judgment on behalf of a prominent property management company. Leading the charge was senior associate, Jon Kangwa, who successfully argued that the plaintiff's claims were barred by the "open and obvious" doctrine- a challenging defense to prevail upon in Illinois courts.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman is pleased to share a significant legal victory in a case led by partner Nicholas Donzuso and senior associate Lauren Vicencio, securing a motion for summary judgment for the client in a complex personal injury case in Philadelphia.

Wood Smith Henning & Berman has achieved a full defense victory in a complex FINRA arbitration, securing a complete dismissal of claims against its client, a seasoned investment advisor. The case, which was by led by partner Michelle Arbitrio and senior associate Seth Bursky, involved claims that the advisor breached his fiduciary duty by making unsuitable investment recommendations. However, the FINRA arbitration panel found the advisor's investment strategy to be both suitable and prudent, given the claimant's stated investment objectives and market conditions.