Top 50 Wrongful Death Settlements in California in 2020
We are pleased to present to you the list of the top 50 wrongful death settlements obtained in California in the year 2020. The list is comprised of cases filed either in a state or federal court, as well as those settled prior to commencing a lawsuit.
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Important: While we strive to achieve maximum accuracy and completeness of our lists, we cannot guarantee either at 100%. If you believe another settlement should be on this list, please submit it to us today.
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| 1 | |
| Amount: | $12,250,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Court B. Purdy, William M. Paoli of Paoli & Purdy P.C. |
| Case: | Estate of Shear v. City of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Car Accident, Dangerous Condition, Government Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Negligent Maintenance, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 2 | |
| Amount: | $11,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Brian Breiter, Peter Diamond of Law Offices of Brian Breiter, LLP |
| Case: | Estate of Pedestrian v. Motorist |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 3 | |
| Amount: | $8,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Andrew Schwartz of Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook |
| Case: | Curry v. San Ramon Valley Unified School District |
| Type: | Negligent Supervision, School Safety, Wrongful Death, Breach of Duty of Care, Drowning Accident, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 4 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $7,500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Robert Glassman, Nathan Werksman of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP |
| Case: | Corona, et al. v. Orange Unified School District, et al. |
| Type: | Motor Vehicle Accident, Negligent Supervision, School Safety, Wrongful Death, Breach of Duty of Care, Negligent Training, Negligent Tort |
| 4 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $7,500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Brian Breiter, Chance Pardon of Law Offices of Brian J. Breiter LLP |
| Case: | Estate of Minor v. Owner |
| Type: | Dangerous Condition, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Failure to Maintain, Emotional Distress, Drowning Accident, Negligent Tort |
| 5 | |
| Amount: | $7,300,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Michael Haddad, Julia Sherwin of Haddad & Sherwin LLP |
| Case: | Martinez v. City of Pittsburg |
| Type: | Assault & Battery, Civil Rights Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 6 | |
| Amount: | $6,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Ranger J. Wiens of Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. |
| Case: | Christian v. Joe O. Rocha Dairy, Inc, et al. |
| Type: | Motor Vehicle Accident, Truck Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 7 | |
| Amount: | $5,700,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Michael J. Haddad, Julia Sherwin of Haddad & Sherwin LLP; Adante Pointer, Patrick Buelna of Pointer & Buelna; John L. Burris of Law Office of John L. Burris |
| Case: | I.F. v. City of Vallejo, et al. |
| Type: | Civil Rights Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, Gunshot Wound, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 8 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $5,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Frank Perez, Miguel G. Caballero of Perez & Caballero APC |
| Case: | Hernandez v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Entrustment, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Single-Vehicle Accident, Emergency Vehicle Accident |
| 8 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $5,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Adante De Pointer, Patrick Buelna of Pointer & Buelna, LLP; John Burris of Law Offices of John Burris |
| Case: | Jaime, et al. v. Alameda County, et al. |
| Type: | Civil Rights Violation, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 8 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $5,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Richard C. Watters of Miles, Sears & Eanni |
| Case: | Rotondaro v. Kings Rehabilitation Center Inc. |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Wrongful Death, Head-on Collision, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 9 | |
| Amount: | $3,900,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Brian T. Dunn of The Cochran Firm California |
| Case: | Twyman v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Assault & Battery, Civil Rights Violation, Due Process Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, Wrongful Imprisonment, False Arrest, Intentional Tort, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Unreasonable Search & Seizure, Negligent Tort |
| 10 | |
| Amount: | $3,250,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | K. Chike Odiwe, John L. Burris, Ben Nisenbaum of Law Offices of John L. Burris; Mark E. Merin of Law Offices of Mark E. Merin |
| Case: | L.F., et al. v. City of Stockton |
| Type: | Civil Rights Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, Gunshot Wound, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 11 | |
| Amount: | $3,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Greyson M. Goody, Robert T. Simon of The Simon Law Group, LLP |
| Case: | Estate of Gonzalez v. Downing Construction Inc. |
| Type: | Business Liability, Construction Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Truck Accident, Work Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 12 | |
| Amount: | $2,975,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Ryan D. Saba, Tyler C. Vanderpool of Rosen Saba, LLP; Richard A. Lesser of Lesser & Associates, PLC |
| Case: | Lee, et al. v. Scuba Mania, Inc., et al. |
| Type: | Business Liability, Negligent Supervision, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Negligent Hiring, Negligent Training, Drowning Accident, Negligent Tort |
| 13 | |
| Amount: | $2,010,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Abraham Sandoval of Sandoval Law, APC |
| Case: | Estate of Patient v. Health Care Center |
| Type: | Hospital Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort |
| 14 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $2,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Arash Zabetian of Martinian & Associates Inc.; Haytham Faraj of Law Offices of Haytham Faraj PLLC |
| Case: | Garcia v. Gonzalez, et al. |
| Type: | Bicycle Accident, Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 14 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $2,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | John F. Denove, Alicia S. Curran, Kyle Tracy of Cheong, Denove, Rowell & Bennett |
| Case: | Rodriguez v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Car Accident, Dangerous Condition, Government Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accident, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Brain Injury, Negligent Maintenance, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 14 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $2,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Tigran Martinian, Arash Zabetian, Tom Vertanous of Martinian & Associates |
| Case: | Vasquez v. 950 Gramercy, LLC |
| Type: | Dangerous Condition, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Fall, Negligent Maintenance, Negligent Tort |
| 15 | |
| Amount: | $1,900,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Michael D. Herman of Herman Khan, PC |
| Case: | Bonner v. Spargo |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort |
| 16 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $1,500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Brian S. Kabateck, Katherine A. Bruce of Kabateck LLP; Sanjiv N. Singh of Sanjiv N. Singh, A Professional Law Corp. |
| Case: | Hickman v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Government Negligence, Murder, Wrongful Death, Child Abuse, Failure to Protect, Failure to Report, Negligent Tort, Child Protection |
| 16 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $1,500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Judd Allen, Brian Beecher, Arash Khorsandi of The Law Offices of Arash Khorsandi, PC |
| Case: | Alvarenga v. Muniain |
| Type: | Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Truck Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 17 | |
| Amount: | $1,200,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Haytham Faraj, Katherine Melik‐Stepanyan of Carpenter Zuckerman & Rowley |
| Case: | Tapia, et al. v. State of California |
| Type: | Car Accident, Dangerous Condition, Failure to Warn, Government Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accident, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Failure to Maintain, Negligent Tort |
| 18 | |
| Amount: | $1,033,824.00 |
| Attorneys: | Steven J. Weinberg of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP |
| Case: | Estate of Levey v. Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of Loma Linda University Health Sciences Center |
| Type: | Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Erroneous Treatment, Negligent Tort |
| 19 | |
| Amount: | $1,025,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Dale K. Galipo, Hang D. Le of Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo |
| Case: | K.L. v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Assault & Battery, Civil Rights Violation, Due Process Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, False Arrest, Gunshot Wound, Intentional Tort, Denial of Medical Care, Police Brutality, Failure to Train, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 20 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $1,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Paul R. Kiesel, Mariana A. McConnell of Kiesel Law LLP |
| Case: | Garcia v. A&G Trucking LLC |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Negligent Supervision, Personal Injury, Truck Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Hiring, Emotional Distress, Negligent Entrustment, Multi-Vehicle Accident, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Negligent Retention |
| 20 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $1,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Arin Khodaverdian of Alpine Law Group, P.C. |
| Case: | Pedestrian v. Truck Driver |
| Type: | Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Truck Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 20 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $1,000,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Dale K. Galipo, Renee V. Masongsong of Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo; Jaime A. Leanos of Morales & Leanos |
| Case: | Estate of Alvarez v. City of Gilroy |
| Type: | Assault & Battery, Civil Rights Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, False Arrest, Gunshot Wound, Denial of Medical Care, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 21 | |
| Amount: | $950,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Mark S. Algorri, Patrick Nolan of DeWitt Algorri & Algorri ; Candice McGurk Bond, Scott Aval, Breanne J. Reguly of Bond & Taylor LLP |
| Case: | Estate of Chatman v. City of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Bicycle Accident, Dangerous Condition, Failure to Warn, Government Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accident, Premises Liability, Truck Accident, Wrongful Death, Failure to Maintain, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 22 | |
| Amount: | $925,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Dawn L. Hassell, Judy Graziano of The Hassell Law Group, P.C. |
| Case: | Goulis-Nijessen v. San Mateo County Transit District |
| Type: | Bus Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 23 | |
| Amount: | $800,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | K. Chike Odiwe, DeWitt M. Lacy of Law Offices of John L. Burris |
| Case: | Diaz, et al. v. County of Ventura |
| Type: | Civil Rights Violation, Excessive Force, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, Gunshot Wound, Police Brutality, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 24 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $750,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Patricia A. Law of Law Offices of Patricia A. Law |
| Case: | Estate of Badalyan v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Delayed Treatment, Failure to Diagnose, Government Negligence, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Failure to Refer, Negligent Tort |
| 24 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $750,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Alireza Taheripour of Law Offices of Ali Taheripour; Leslie T. Zador of Law Offices of Leslie T. Zador |
| Case: | Schwab v. Rambla Vista Enterprises, LLC, et al. |
| Type: | Business Liability, Dangerous Condition, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Fall, Negligent Maintenance, Negligent Tort |
| 24 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $750,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Siamak Vaziri, David C. Shay of Vaziri Law Group |
| Case: | Estate of Moon v. City of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Car Accident, Dangerous Condition, Government Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 25 | |
| Amount: | $700,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | James L. Hudgens of James L. Hudgens, APC; Robert C. Chandler of Chandler Law Firm |
| Case: | Estate of Calderon v. USA, et al. |
| Type: | Failure to Diagnose, Government Negligence, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Failure to Treat, Surgical Error, Failure to Monitor, Anesthesia Error, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 26 | |
| Amount: | $625,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Diane M. Corwin of Law Offices of Diane M. Corwin; John F. Denove of Cheong, Denove, Rowell, Bennett & Hapuarachy |
| Case: | Estate of Sanders v. Community Hospital of San Bernardino, et al. |
| Type: | Delayed Treatment, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 27 | |
| Amount: | $531,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Scott A. Ritsema, Brian D. Chase of Bisnar Chase; Robin Jacobs, Dawn Ly of Law Office of Robin Jacobs Inc. |
| Case: | Lucero v. Mehta |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Personal Injury, Truck Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Entrustment, Multi-Vehicle Accident, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability |
| 28 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Ronald Yoosefian of Yoosefian Law Firm, P.C. |
| Case: | Estate of Arias v. Johnson, et al. |
| Type: | Failure to Warn, Motor Vehicle Accident, Motorcycle Accident, Product Liability, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Strict Liability, Design Defect |
| 28 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Arin Khodaverdian of Alpine Law Group, P.C. |
| Case: | Estate of Pedestrian v. Driver |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 28 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $500,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Arin Khodaverdian of Alpine Law Group, P.C. |
| Case: | Estate of Pedestrian v. Driver |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 29 | |
| Amount: | $415,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Kenneth M. Sigelman, Andrew R. Chivinski of Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates |
| Case: | Estate of Ghosh v. Palomar Health, et al. |
| Type: | Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Anesthesia Error, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 30 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $400,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Nicholas C. Rowley, Stephen K. McElroy, Josh M. Dowell of Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley LLP; Chris A. Allgreen of McMahon & Allgreen |
| Case: | Estate of Rubaloff v. State of California, et al. |
| Type: | Car Accident, Dangerous Condition, Government Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death, Failure to Maintain, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 30 (tie) | |
| Amount: | $400,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Jorge Gonzalez of Jorge Gonzalez, A Professional Corporation |
| Case: | Estate of West, et al. v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Civil Rights Violation, Due Process Violation, Government Negligence, Wrongful Death, False Arrest, Denial of Medical Care, Police Misconduct, Negligent Tort |
| 31 | |
| Amount: | $320,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Benjamin T. Ikuta of Hodes Milman LLP |
| Case: | Minor Plaintiffs v. HMO |
| Type: | Business Liability, Delayed Treatment, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort |
| 32 | |
| Amount: | $300,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Neil M. Howard of Law Office of Neil M. Howard |
| Case: | Gomez v. County of Los Angeles |
| Type: | Delayed Childbirth, Government Negligence, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Ob-Gyn Malpractice, Negligent Tort |
| 33 | |
| Amount: | $280,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Benjamin T. Ikuta of Hodes Milman Liebeck |
| Case: | Plaintiff v. Hospital |
| Type: | Delayed Childbirth, Delayed Treatment, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Emotional Distress, Ob-Gyn Malpractice, Negligent Tort |
| 34 | |
| Amount: | $220,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | John M. Kremer of Law Offices of John M. Kremer |
| Case: | Estate of Harmon v. Kasko, et al. |
| Type: | Failure to Diagnose, Hospital Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Failure to Treat, Surgical Error, Medication Error, Failure to Monitor, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior |
| 35 | |
| Amount: | $150,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Rolando J. Gutierrez of Gutierrez Law Group APLC |
| Case: | Estate of Miramontes v. County of Los Angeles, et al. |
| Type: | Failure to Diagnose, Government Negligence, Medical Malpractice, Professional Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Failure to Treat, Medication Error, Negligent Tort |
| 36 | |
| Amount: | $110,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Neal S. Metler of MacArthur, Heder & Metler PLLC |
| Case: | Aitui v. Irick |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Entrustment, DUI, Negligent Tort, Vicarious Liability, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 37 | |
| Amount: | $100,000.00 |
| Attorneys: | Peter H. Liederman, Karen Matcke Crosby of Law Office of Karen Matcke Crosby |
| Case: | Estate of Gonzalez v. Semerena |
| Type: | Car Accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Wrongful Death, Negligent Tort, Single-Vehicle Accident |
| 38 - 50 | |
| Note: | Settlements below $100,000 have not been included to the list. |