• 3.6.23

    WSHB partners Christopher Heo and Jack Pemberton succeeded in their motion for summary judgment on behalf of the client, a resort vacation club, accused of negligence and premises liability after a patron was injured in a slip and fall incident.

  • 3.6.23

    In a spectacular win, Partner Keith Smith and Senior Counsel Courtney Jakofsky, successfully obtained summary judgment and a dismissal in a general negligence and premises liability case filed against their general contractor and owner clients by an employee of a subcontractor working on the project.

  • 3.3.23

    In a highly contested matter, Arizona partner Jodi Mullis successfully argued a motion for summary judgment decided in favor of the client. This case arose out of a construction project for an assisted living facility. WSHB's client was the contractor for the project and entered an AIA Document A 102-2017 Standard Form Agreement. A fireplace subcontractor was retained to install and/or construct the fireplaces and chimneys at the facility. Construction on the project was completed in December 2020, and several weeks later a fire caused significant damage to the property. The plaintiff claimed that it suffered $2,777,183.40 in damages as a result. This amount included damage to real property, personal property, the cost of rehousing residents and loss of business income. Of the claimed loss only $713,172.00 was not covered by insurance.

  • 2.24.23

    WSHB partner Joel Odou and associate Laura Bown secured a tremendous win for the client after arguing a successful motion for summary judgment before the court. In a case involving respondeat superior issues, the court found that the employer was not liable for the tortious actions of an employee that occurred after an off-site work event had ended at a local bar and restaurant.

  • 2.22.23

    Congratulations are in order for WSHB Nevada office managing partner Janice Michaels and senior associate Xheni Ristani who on a summary judgment win for the firm's client.

  • 2.13.23

    In a high-profile suit involving the City of New York, the NYC Department of Buildings, a former mayor, several lobbying firms and some of NYC's largest real estate developers, Senior Counsel John Darminio decisively secured a dismissal of our client, a large New York City commercial real estate consulting firm.

  • 2.3.23

    The Georgia Bulldog’s repeat National Championship has nothing on the Atlanta office of WSHB! Since December 1st, our superstar Atlanta team has secured five Motion for Summary Judgment rulings. Take a closer look at what's happening in the Peach State.

  • 1.6.23

    In a high-exposure wrongful death case, WSHB has succeeded in a motion for summary judgment in favor of all three WSHB-represented clients. WSHB partner Andrew Mallon and the team at the Orange County branch fought zealously for their clients to obtain the big win.

  • 12.29.22

    Thomas Vandenburg and Rudolf Petrosyan from our Glendale office have secured a summary judgment in favor of our client in a product liability case.

  • 12.20.22

    In a case before the Ninth Circuit, WSHB attorneys Tom Vandenburg and Nick Gedo successfully argued that the district court erred in refusing to grant intervention in a complex environmental tort case in which WSHB represented the insurers of a defunct defendant.

  • 12.6.22

    WSHB senior associate Zachary Fletcher secured a defense verdict for our Condominium Association client. Notably, plaintiff claimed damages of over $5.5 million and potential exposure in excess of $8-10 million. Before trial, Plaintiff issued a non-negotiable $1,350,000 settlement demand, which we flatly rejected. Zack’s analysis was validated by the jury, who deliberated for about one hour before returning with a defense verdict following the three-day trial.

  • 11.30.22

    Following a week-long hearing, a three-person Panel of Arbitrators dismissed Claimant's allegations that WSHB's client violated several provisions of state and securities laws, seeking $1.4 million in damages, in favor of our client.

  • 10.10.22

    In a high-profile, high-exposure products liability case involving allegations of a defective cannabis leaf trimmer that caused serious injuries, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado granted summary judgment in favor of the manufacturer. WSHB partner Ryan Hicks and his team prevailed in navigating this victory.

  • 9.9.22

    Sometimes the defense is so strong that the case is gutted before it makes it to the jury. That is the result in a Santa Barbara matter where WSHB trial lawyer Frances O’Meara prevailed on her motion for a directed verdict following plaintiff’s case in chief. Focus on this case now moves to cost recovery given the result and beating the statutory offer to compromise.

  • 9.9.22

    When two companies both catering to the rich and famous of Orange County tried to merge, and failed, litigation was bound to ensue. Thankfully, for one of the companies, Rebecca Gabroy was the trial lawyer.

  • 6.18.22

    Following an eight-week bench trial, plaintiffs dropped its $6 million dollar plus demand and accepted a dismissal with a cost waiver. This trial victory, led by WSHB trial lawyer Rebecca M. Gabroy, underscored a hard fought battle in a complex defamation, breach of contract, lost profits and punitive damage case which endured many failed mediations.

  • 6.17.22

    Following a protracted trial, an Orange County jury handed an impressive win for WSHB trial lawyers Sheila Fix and Greg Amundson in a habitability case. Notably, this trial started on March 29 and the verdict was handed down almost three months later.

  • 6.14.22

    Following a three-week trial, a Los Angeles jury rejected a $45 million demand for a fatality in a jet ski accident in favor of Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman’s client.

  • 6.14.22

    In another victory for the team at WSHB, partner Ranjan Lahiri and senior counsel Sarah Spaulding obtained an outstanding verdict for the client, defeating Plaintiff’s 998 offer. Plaintiff who was injured while inside a self-storage unit demanded $1,175,000 in damages.

  • 6.6.22

     Another trial “first” for national law firm Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman last week when a Los Angeles jury returned the verdict. Tried by sibling partners, Tracy and Paul Lewis, this case represents a brother-sister trial duo that defeated plaintiff’s claim for over $2.4 million. 

  • 12.8.21

    Thirty-one days of trial testimony have culminated in a resounding defense verdict in a trial involving a commercial property in Orange County, California. After six hours of deliberation, the jury rejected a myriad of claims from the plaintiff, who leased a restaurant in a commercial area. Plaintiff claimed damages against the building property owner and management company exceeding $10.5 million, plus punitive damages and attorney fees.

  • 12.3.21

    A San Diego jury returned a defense verdict after deliberating for less than one hour in a closely watched habitability case involving a plaintiff claiming significant injuries from bedbugs. WSHB partner Paul Lewis successfully argued to the jury that plaintiff’s claim for over $500,000 in damages should be rejected in its entirety, a decision they embraced wholeheartedly.

  • 10.25.21

    In a closely watched trial, a Los Angeles County jury rejected the plaintiff’s demand for approximately $20 million in damages for a case involving allegations of traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, and injuries to the cranial nerves of an eye caused as a result of a car accident. After deliberating for approximately 11 hours, the jury awarded $252,049.47. Noted by trial attorney Fred Vasquez, this amount was appreciably less than the policy limits demanded during the pendency of this case.

  • 8.13.21

    WSHB secured a significant victory for carriers in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market yesterday when the Ninth Circuit affirmed an order compelling arbitration under the Convention on the Recognition of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the “Convention”). In its holding, the Ninth Circuit made clear that foreign insurers, like those participating in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, can enforce arbitration provisions, even if a state statute prohibits their enforcement in insurance contracts. This decision should pave the way for foreign insurers to enforce arbitration provisions. Underwriters and their third-party administrator were represented by WSHB’s coverage team of Colleen McCaffrey and Trevor Peck.

  • 3.24.21

    On March 3, 2021, the Los Angeles County Superior Court granted Underwriters’ motion for summary judgment in a $3.5 million bad faith lawsuit. Underwriters were represented by WSHB’s insurance coverage team of Tracy Lewis and Ricky Zelonka. The case stemmed from an insurance coverage dispute arising out of a fire to residential real property in Hawaii in the summer of 2017. The Hawaii property was covered under a lender placed program issued to an international property management company. After Underwriters received the claim, the Company filed for bankruptcy and it was discovered that they engaged in a multi-year $1 billion Ponzi scheme. While Underwriters were adjusting the claim and considering the impact of the pending bankruptcy, the Company filed a bad faith lawsuit in California state court. Underwriters’ defense to the lawsuit was that the Policy was void ab initio due to the Company's concealment of the true nature of its business and representing itself as a commercial lender when it procured the Policy.

  • 1.25.21

    WSHB’s elite national trial team obtained a defense verdict from a jury in Orange County, California, on behalf of a property management company that specializes in community associations. The defendant was accused of wrongfully terminating an 11-year tenured employee while he was out on medical leave for treatment of Stage 4 cancer.

    This trial, the team’s second case taken to verdict during the Covid-19 pandemic, was conducted under less than ideal circumstances with social distancing being enforced by spreading jurors throughout the courtroom, impacting sight lines to witnesses and exhibits, and everyone being required to wear masks, which made both hearing and judging credibility difficult. Through extra effort, strategizing, planning and physical positioning during different phases of the trial, WSHB’s trial team was able to navigate the new difficulties created by the distancing requirements.

  • 10.13.20

    WSHB Cybersecurity & Data Privacy team lead Christopher Seusing, along with senior counsel Ryan Schoeb, obtained a dismissal of a putative data breach class action brought against the firm's client, one of Florida’s largest healthcare providers.

  • 9.18.19

    Nationally acclaimed trial lawyer, WSHB Partner Andrew Kessler, secured summary judgment in a matter pending in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in favor of our clients, a temporary staffing agency and one of the temporary employees that it placed with a third party company. Plaintiff, a 64 year-old married woman, slipped and fell entering a bathroom which had been recently mopped but for which no wet floor sign had been placed by the temporary employee. As a result of this slip and fall, Plaintiff sustained a fractured hip and significant injuries to her right shoulder and lower back. Plaintiff who was working at the third party company at the time of the incident had a workers’ compensation lien in excess of $350,000 and was claiming permanent injuries which had significantly affected her activities of daily living.

  • 8.7.19

    Andrew Kessler, WSHB’s newest partner in our Philadelphia office, has secured summary judgment in favor of his clients in a case in Monroe County, Pennsylvania involving the assault of a tenant’s guest at a party. Plaintiff, a social guest of the tenants, brought suit against Mr. Kessler’s clients, out of possession Landlords, after being viciously assaulted by trespassers at a party that the tenants were hosting. The trespassers, members of a local gang, “crashed” the party and then without provocation began to randomly assault other guests. During the assault, the gang members repeatedly kicked and punched Plaintiff in the head.

  • 1.18.19

    Following almost two years of litigation, the Fresno office of WSHB has obtained the dismissal of a firm client from two consolidated class action complaints. Both the Micheli and Flannery actions were filed in the Fresno County Superior Court and alleged that the City of Fresno and its contractors were responsible for adverse water quality throughout North East Fresno, damaging residents' plumbing systems. The proposed class would have included tens of thousands of homes. Our client was a contractor to the City that was alleged to have contributed to corrosion by failing to follow industry standards when installing water meters in thousands of locations. Following initial discovery, WSHB filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that none of the named plaintiffs could prove that our client had performed work on their property. The proposed class representatives therefore lacked both standing and evidence of causation. The motion further argued that under the case of Baltimore Football Club, Inc. v. Superior Court (Ramco, Inc.) (1985) 171 Cal.App.3d 356, 359, the named plaintiffs lacked standing to sue our client in a representative capacity.

  • 4.26.18

    In a wrongful death action, partner David Webster and associate Tudor Jones recently obtained summary judgment for our client, a large city in Northern California (the "City"). Plaintiff’s decedent lost control of his bicycle as he rode on a sidewalk through a narrowing underpass. Upon losing control, the decedent fell from the sidewalk into the adjacent roadway where he was struck and killed by a passing motorist. Plaintiff alleged that they City was negligent in its design and maintenance of a dangerous condition, the bicycle infrastructure, generally, on public property. The successful Motion for Summary Judgment was brought under Plaintiff’s failure to establish causation, a necessary element of the causes of action pleaded.

  • 2.12.18

    Following a four-day Binding Medical Malpractice Arbitration in Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles attorneys, Brian Hoffman and Michelle Birtja successfully defended a Medical Negligence and Loss of Consortium claim brought by Claimants against our client, a Surgery Center and co-defendant, a Pain Management Specialist. The Arbitrator issued a decision rejecting Claimants request for the application of the Doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitor and found no evidence of a breach in the standard of care on the part of the Respondents.

  • 11.9.17

    Following a three and one-half week jury trial in Seattle, WSHB achieved unquestionable victory in a complex environmental exposure matter, involving a large, county-owned landfill. Partner Timothy Repass served as lead trial counsel, and successfully argued that the landfill operations and alleged fugitive gas emissions did not cause the impacts claimed alleged by multiple homeowners. Plaintiffs claimed inverse condemnation, nuisance, negligence, and other causes of action related to the failure of a landfill pipeline, and also alleged landfill operation deficiencies and fugitive emissions of landfill gas. Multiple homeowner Plaintiffs were represented by Brad Jones and Stephen Tan, and their respective law firms, out of Seattle. WSHB’s client was the sole defendant at trial.

  • 10.24.17

    In a commercial landlord-tenant subrogation action by the landlord and commercial business association’s insurer, partner David Webster recently obtained summary judgment for our client, The Wooden Duck, a long-standing furniture manufacturer and seller in Berkeley. The subrogation action followed a building fire that destroyed our client’s leased warehouse space and other property and personal property of three other entities. Plaintiff insurer issued a property damage policy to the Association that owned and maintained the common area building components and the landlord that leased space to our client. The successful Motion for Summary Judgment was brought under California’s case-by-case anti-subrogation law which provides that lessees cannot be sued for subrogation as deemed implied co-insureds under the policy based on specific language in the lease agreement.

  • 10.10.17

    On September 19, 2017, WSHB client Fetzer Vineyards received a resounding trial victory in a trademark action brought by Sazerac Company. In its lawsuit, Sazerac alleged that Fetzer Vineyards’ bourbon barrel aged 1000 Stories wine, which depicts a buffalo image, was confusingly similar to Sazerac’s Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey, which also depicts a buffalo image. In a 35-page ruling, following a week long bench trial, U.S. District Court Judge William H. Orrick agreed with virtually every argument advanced by the defense, including that the Buffalo Trace brand lacked the requisite distinctiveness, that the two products are not confusingly similar, and that Sazerac failed to demonstrate any harm. “In the final analysis,” wrote Judge Orrick, “this case was not close.”

  • 8.11.17

    In a high-exposure personal injury case where Plaintiff asserted that one of the nation’s largest residential builders was liable for the defective design of an intersection in the City of Los Angeles, WSHB successfully obtained a dismissal on summary judgment, arguing that the builder did not control the intersection and was not responsible for its design.  

  • 6.16.17

    In a closely watched case, a San Diego jury rejected a $12 million demand from two plaintiffs who claimed substantial injuries. Veteran trial lawyer Wyeth Burrows successfully argued that the chronology of events demonstrated the accident was not a substantial factor in the need for the ensuing medical treatments.

  • 2.24.17

    In a dangerous condition of public property claim, partner Greg Amundson recently obtained summary judgment in favor of the City of Long Beach. A motorcyclist that became paraplegic alleged that a traffic sign blocked the view of a driver, who pulled out in front of him when he entered an intersection. Amundson drafted the successful Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of the City based on Government Code § 830.6, which provides public entities with design immunity. The successful motion was a joint effort with the City Attorney's Office against personal injury firm, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP.

  • 10.20.16

    Following a 28-day trial, a Los Angeles jury returned a defense verdict for a defendant professional property manager involving complex claims of bodily injuries and economic damages in a sewage and mold exposure case. Peter J. Burfening, Jr., of WSHB represented the defendant property manager.

  • 9.30.16

    Congratulations to our dedicated litigation team in Las Vegas! This most recent WSHB victory involved a plaintiff motorcyclist who sued our client, a well respected national security company, and its security officer (who was driving a company vehicle on a patrol route).

  • 3.28.16

    Following a two week arbitration in Maricopa County, Arizona, partner Greg Amundson successfully defended all claims sought by the owners of fifteen (15) single family homes in favor of the selling entity of an Arizona residential developer and general contractor. Specifically, the Arbitrator issued a decision which completely exonerated the seller from any liability for all of the claims.

  • 12.9.15

    Almost 2 1/2 years of litigation and more than four weeks of trial culminated in an unquestionable victory by Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP in a complicated matter addressing riparian rights and liabilities along the Colorado River. In Bruncati v. Andrews, et al., WSHB attorney Graham B. Miller represented defendants Andrews Properties LLC, River Land LLC, and Billy Wayne Andrews, Jr. and obtained a verdict for less than 3% of the amount originally sought by plaintiffs, exposing them to a cost award that should mean a net judgment in favor of defendants.

  • 11.20.15
    In a case involving the claims of a motorcycle rider suffering major lower leg injuries, including multiple open fractures, a 12-person jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Defendant Alicia Nunez after deliberating for just a few hours. WSHB attorneys David S. Webster and Summit S. Dhillon lead a legal team representing Ms. Nunez in a 7-day trial which was completed to judgment in September 2015, with a final Satisfaction of Judgment entered on November 10, 2015.
  • 11.19.15

    In a closely watched case, a 12-person jury returned a complete defense verdict late Tuesday afternoon in favor of the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ("LADWP") after determining that its Scattergood Generating Station in El Segundo, California, did not present a dangerous condition, despite Plaintiff's claim that he was exposed to asbestos dust from calcium silicate pipe insulation known as Kaylo 10.

  • 11.16.15

    In a closely watched dental malpractice trial, a 12-person Orange County jury returned a defense verdict in favor of WSHB’s client after deliberating for less than a day. Brian Hoffman, a partner at WSHB, led the defense team representing a dentist of a high profile dental implant practice. WSHB attorney Michelle Birtja assisted Brian in the two-week trial that was completed to verdict on September 25, 2015.

  • 9.10.15

    In a case involving the claims of a dangerous roadway condition causing paraplegia of a motorcyclist, a 12-person jury returned a nearly unanimous verdict in favor of County of Ventura after deliberating for less than four hours. WSHB attorney R. Gregory Amundson lead a legal team representing the County of Ventura in a 4-week trial which was completed to verdict on August 31, 2015.

  • 8.7.15

    In a scene cut straight out of a Hollywood movie, a tanker truck hauling 8,000 gallons of fuel caught fire on a Los Angeles Freeway.  The fully engulfed truck came to rest under a freeway overpass.  The explosive fire that followed completely destroyed the overpass and isolated numerous nearby businesses. The State of California filed suit against the truck owner, Van Dyk Tank Lines, seeking to recover the costs associated with re-building the overpass. WSHB was retained to defend Van Dyk and was able to settle the action for less than 50 cents on the dollar. As part of its investigation, WSHB discovered that the truck fire was caused by the defective design and installation of the interaxle driveline containing the U-joint.

  • 9.4.14

    In a highly publicized medical practice case, stemming from a 2009 hospitalization of an 89-year-old at St. John's Health Center, a jury of 12 reached a unanimous verdict on behalf of the hospital, finding no negligence.  In the original complaint, filed in 2010, causes of action were also brought for elder abuse and general negligence. After years of litigation, the matter proceeded to a two-week trial in the West District Superior Court located in Santa Monica.

  • 6.26.14

    A Ventura County jury returned a defense verdict in a nuisance and trespass case with multiple theories of liability which were fueling a whopping $8.9 million settlement demand.  WSHB trial lawyer Kevin Smith reported the jury took little time to return the defense award in this three week trial.

  • 6.24.14

    In a case involving the death of a construction worker by a 30,000 pound forklift in the Maricopa County Superior Court, a 10-person jury returned a defense verdict after deliberating only two hours. WSHB attorney led a legal team representing the forklift driver and his employer, in a 10-day wrongful death trial which was completed to verdict on June 24, 2014.

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