The National Law Journal's Largest Verdicts of 2001

The National Law Journal's largest verdicts of 2001

Also: Top Defense Wins Where case names are hotlinked, click to see the full case report from VerdictSearch.com.

RANK AMOUNT CASE TYPE CASE NAME PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY DEFENSE ATTORNEY STATUS Maurice A. Leiter and Boeken v. Philip Morris Inc. Michael J. Piuze John L. Carlton 1 $3,006,000,000 Products liability Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. BC Law Offices of Michael J. Piuze, Reduced, on appeal Arnold & Porter, Los 226593 (June 6, 2001) Los Angeles Angeles Grefer v. Alpha Technical Gregory C. Weiss; Stuart H. Smith and Jack W. Patricia E. Weeks Services Inc. 2 $1,060,000,000 Environmental Damage Harang Weiss & Eason, New On appeal Orleans Parish, La., Dist. Ct., No. Smith & Harang, New Orleans Orleans; The Weeks Firm, 97-15004 (May 22, 2001) New Orleans Larry S. Stewart; Robert Allapattah Services v. Exxon Eugene E. Stearns; Jay S. G. Abrams Corp. Solowsky 3 $540,000,000 Breach of contract class action Stewart, Tilghman, Fox & On appeal Stearns Weaver Miller, Miami; S.D. Fla., No. 91-0986 (Feb. 20, Bianchi, Miami; Howrey Pertnoy Solowsky, Miami 2001) Simon, Washington, D.C. Mark A. Dombroff and Cassoutt v. Cessna Aircraft Co. Arthur Alan Wolk and Richard E. Henry B. Goddard Jr. 4 $480,000,000 Products liability Escambia Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. 91-Genter On appeal Dombroff & Gilmore, 2939-CA-01 (Aug. 15, 2001) Wolk & Genter, Philadelphia Washington, D.C. COC Services Ltd. v. CompUSA Mark T. Josephs; Inc. Mark S. Werbner Theodore W. Daniel Part reversed, on 5 $454,500,000 Breach of contract Dallas Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 00-Sayles, Lidji & Werbner, Dallas Jackson Walker, Dallas; appeal 8358-F (Feb. 8, 2001) Jenkens & Gilchrist, Dallas Universal Express Inc. v. Select Capital Advisors Inc. Arthur W. Tifford 6 $388,910,000 Fraud No one at trial Pending collection Miami-Dade Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. Solo practitioner, Miami 98-08358 CA 01 (July 25, 2001) Fuqua v. Horizon/CMS H. Dustin Fillmore III and Cynthia Shea Goosen and Healthcare Corp. Charles W. Fillmore 7 $312,710,000 Nursing home negligence R. Brent Cooper Settled The Fillmore Law Firm, Fort Worth, N.D. Texas, No. 4-98CV1087Y Cooper & Scully, Dallas (Feb. 9, 2001) Texas Jenkins v. Ranger Construction Roy R. Watson; Brian Industries Inc. Christian D. Searcy Boysaw 8 $256,000,000 Personal injury Palm Beach Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Adams, Coogler, Watson, Part settled 98009025AN, No. CL0000169AN Shipley, West Palm Beach, Fla. West Palm Beach; Ryles & (July 11, 2001) Boysaw, West Palm Beach David Barfield; Mary Johnson v. AC&S Manufacturing Isaac K. Byrd Jr.; Timothy W. Wells Inc. Porter 9 $150,000,000 Asbestos personal injury Barfield & Associates, In motions Byrd & Associates, Jackson, Miss.; Holmes Co., Miss., Cir. Ct., No. Jackson; Wells Anderson & Porter & Malouf, Jackson 2000-181 (Oct. 27, 2001) Race, Denver Potamkin v. Reinke Richard A. Sprague and Joseph 9 $150,000,000 Malicious prosecution Philadelphia Ct. C.P., Sept. 1998 R. Podroza Jr. No one at trial Seeking collection Term. No. 0005 (Sept. 24, 2001) Sprague & Sprague, Philadelphia Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. v. St. Timothy J. Malloy; Robert K. John J. Swenson; Denis Stanley R. Salmon Jude Medical Inc. 11 $140,000,000 Patent infringement McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, In motions S.D. Ind., No. IP96-1718-CH/G Chicago; Baker & Daniels, Los Angeles; Gibson, Dunn (July 3, 2001) Indianapolis & Crutcher, Palo Alto, Calif. Peter E. Moll; Stanley Maris Distributing Co. v. Willie E. Gary and Madison B. Cushman Anheuser-Busch Inc. McClellan Howrey Simon Arnold, 12 $139,700,000 Breach of contract Remitted, on appeal Alachua Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Washington, D.C.; Scruggs 97CA22 (Aug. 3, 2001) Lewis, Stuart, Fla. & Carmichael, Gainesville, Fla. Donald E. Godwin; D. Bell v. Dresser Industries Inc. Glenn W. Morgan; Karl E. Novak Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, Ferguson McNiel III 13 $130,000,000 Asbestos personal injury Orange Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. A- On appeal Beaumont, Texas; Ness Motley, Godwin Gruber, Dallas; 920,961-SC19 (Sept. 12, 2001) Charleston, S.C. Vinson & Elkins, Houston William F. Devine; Laura X-It Products v. Walter Kidde Robert Tata and Benjamin B. Bernstein Luger Portable Equipment Inc. 14 $116,000,000 Patent infringement Madison III Hofheimer Nusbaum, In motions E.D. Va., No. 2:00-CV-513 (Aug. Hunton & Williams, Norfolk, Va. Norfolk; Moore & Van Allen, 17, 2001) Durham, N.C. Evans v. St. Mary's Hospital of Henry Shaub Stephen E. Erickson Brooklyn Shaub, Ahmuty, Critrin & 15 $114,870,000 Medical malpractice Pegalis & Erickson, Lake Success, In motions Spratt, New Hyde Park, New York Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. N.Y. 4038/91 (Nov. 9, 2001) N.Y. Horace C. Hall III and J. de Ayala v.Brittingham Peter Houtsma; Carlos Zaffirini Alberto Alarcon 16 $108,240,000 Fraud Webb Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 98- Holland & Hart, Denver; Zaffirini & Reversed Quintanilla & Alarcon, CVQ-01092-D3 (May 17, 2001) Castillo, Laredo, Texas Laredo Ballinas v. New York City Health Thomas A. Moore Kenneth R. Larywon and Hospitals Corp. 17 $107,800,000 Medical malpractice Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore, Martin, Clearwater & Bell, In motions Bronx Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. New York New York 7709/94 (May 14, 2001) James D. Shannon; Edward Christy D. Jones; Robert Rankin v. Janssen Blackmon Jr. L. Johnson III Pharmaceuticals Inc. 18 $100,000,000 Products liability Shannon Law Firm, Hazlehurst, Butler, Snow, O'Mara, In motions Claiborne Co., Miss., Cir. Ct., No. Miss; Blackmon & Blackmon, Jackson, Miss.; Natchez, 2000-20 (Sept. 28, 2001) Hazlehurst Miss. Residential Funding Corp. v. Stephen D. Susman, Philip S. Beck and Jeffrey A. Hall DeGeorge Financial Corp. Jonathan J. Ross 19 $96,400,000 Breach of contract Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & On appeal D. Conn., No. 3:00CV202 (Sept. Susman & Godfrey, Scott, Chicago 24, 2001) Houston Vincent J. Bartolotta Jr.; David Border Business Park Inc. v. Anthony J. Shanley and B. Casselman City of San Diego Richard Alan Ostrow 20 $94,500,000 Breach of contract Thorsnes, Bartolotta, San Diego; Reduced, in motions City attorney's office, City of San Diego Co., Calif., Super. Ct., Wasserman, Comden, Tarzana, San Diego No. 69279 (Jan. 2, 2001) Calif. Bell v. Farmers Insurance Lee T. Paterson and Steven C. Zieff Exchange Jessie A. Kohler 21 $90,010,000 Employment class action Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff, Oakland, On appeal Winston & Strawn, Los Alameda Co., Calif., Super. Ct., Calif. No. 774013 (July 10, 2001) Angeles Palmas y Bambu v. E.I. du Pont Janet L. Humphreys and Adam de Nemours & Co. John A. Boudet M. Moskowitz 22 $88,500,000 Civil RICO Greenberg Traurig, In motions Miami-Dade Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, Orlando, Fla. 97-12186CA23, 97-12185CA23 Miami (Aug. 10, 2001) Benefield v. Halmar Corp. Peter J. Madison Howard R. Borowick 23 $85,640,000 Personal injury Orange Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. Adelson, Slater & Madison, In motions Sacks & Sacks, New York 6520/94 (June 8, 2001) New City, N.Y. Ernst v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare George W. Mauze II Charles R. Dunn Corp. 24 $82,000,000 Nursing home negligence Law Offices of George W. Mauze Dunn, Kacal, Adams, Settled Bexar Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 99- II, San Antonio Pappas & Law, Houston CI-08116 (Feb. 23, 2001) John G. Adami; Don Elizondo v. Tradco Corp. Anthony F. Constant Francis Lighty 25 $80,000,000 Products liability Jim Wells Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Constant & Vela, Corpus Christi, Adami, McNeill, Alice, Settled 98-11-37092 (Jan. 27, 2001) Texas Texas; Stevens, Baldo, Beaumont, Texas Bennie Lazzara Jr.; Brian David Sauer v. Advocat Inc. Darren O'Quinn and Reddick 26 $78,430,000 Nursing home negligence David A. Couch On appeal Polk Co., Ark., Cir. Ct., No. CIV- Wilkes & McHugh, Tampa, Fla.; Dover & Dixon, Little Rock 2000-5 (June 22, 2001) Wilkes & McHugh, Little Rock, Ark. Hico Inc. v. St. Paul Fire Gregory Copeland and James D. Shannon Insurance Co. Thomas C. Gerity 27 $77,500,000 Breach of contract Shannon Law Firm, Hazlehurst, On appeal Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Copiah Co., Miss., Dist. Ct., No. 99-Miss. 0400 (Feb. 27, 2001) Bush, Jackson, Miss. Moody v. Summers Valorie W. Davenport and Tim Phillip T. Bruns and Scott Galveston Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., 28 $75,400,000 Securities fraud Yusef Humphries Pending motions No. 99CV0471 (Dec. 4 and 5, Davenport Legal Group, Houston Gibbs & Bruns, Houston 2001)

Antunes v. County of Nassau E. Gordon Haesloop Steven C. Pepperman Bartlett, McDonough, 29 $75,000,000 Medical malpractice Nassau Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. In motions Bauman & Kunkis, New York Bastone & Monaghan, 13780/98 (May 16, 2001) Mineola, N.Y. Biomedical Systems Corp. v. GE John M. Bray; Chilton Gerard T. Carmody and Douglas Daus Varner Marquette Medical Systems Inc. 29 $75,000,000 Breach of contract W. King King & Spalding, On appeal E.D. Mo., No. 4:99CV01590 (April Bryan Cave, St. Louis Washington, D.C.; King & 9, 2001) Spalding, Atlanta Joseph H. Bocock; Keith Bridenstine v. Kaiser-Francis Oil Robert N. Barnes; Douglas E. F. Sellers Co. Burns 31 $73,760,000 Breach of contract class action McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma In motions Barnes & Lewis, Oklahoma City; Texas Co., Okla., Dist. Ct., No. CJ- City; Sellers & Bryant, Douglas E. Burns, Oklahoma City 2000-1 (Nov. 7, 2001) Tulsa, Okla. Royal Palm Resort v. Mitsui Richard T. Williams and Robert Mark N. White Construction Co. Ltd. 32 $73,400,000 Breach of contract L. Ivey Pillsbury Winthrop, San Awaiting punitives Guam Super. Ct., No. CV1885-93 Holland & Knight, Los Angeles Francisco (Dec. 4, 2001) Baker v. Washington Mutual Richard A. Freese; Edward Jess H. Dickinson; Mary Blackmon Jr. Brown Finance Group L.L.C. 33 $71,270,000 Fraud Langston, Sweet, Birmingham, Dickinson, Ros, Wooten, Remitted, on appeal Holmes Co., Miss., Cir. Ct., No. CV-Ala.; Blackmon & Blackmon, Gulfport, Miss.; solo 98-0026 (June 13, 2001) Canton, Miss. practitioner, Grenada, Miss. Cable & Computer Technology John B. Quinn Jeffrey S. Davidson and Eric C. Inc. v. Lockheed Sanders Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart, 34 $64,500,000 Breach of contract Liebeler On appeal Oliver & Hedges, Los C.D. Calif., No. CV97-5315 (March Kirkland & Ellis, Los Angeles 28 and April 5, 2001) Angeles Lopez v. American Home Kathryn Snapka and Gregory W. J.A. "Tony" Canales Products Corp. Turman 35 $56,550,000 Products liability Canales & Simonson, Remitted, settled Law Offices of Kathryn Snapka, Los Angeles Dist. Ct., No. 99- Corpus Christi 0737723 (April 3, 2001) Corpus Christi, Texas Hernandez v. Kelly-Moore Paint Lisa A. Blue and Richard I. Gary Sharp Co. Inc. 36 $55,500,000 Asbestos personal injury Nemeroff Foley & Mansfield, Settled Jim Wells Co., Texas, Co. Ct., No. Baron & Budd, Dallas Bloomfield Hills, Mich. CA-2000-3559 (Aug. 30, 2001) Walter M. Yoka; Kenneth Lampe v. Continental General Brian J. Panish; Taras Kick J. Moran Tire Greene, Broillett, Santa Monica, 37 $55,320,000 Products liability Yoka & Smith, Los Angeles; Settled Calif.; The Kick Law Firm, Los Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. BC Moran Kiker Brown, Angeles 173567 (April 13, 2001) Richmond, Va. Hall v. Henry Ford Health John M. Perrin Systems Brian J. McKeen Wilmarth, Tanoury, Ramar, 38 $55,000,000 Medical malpractice In motions Wayne Co., Mich., Cir. Ct., No. McKeen & Associates, Detroit Corbet, Garves & Shaw, 00017269NH (Nov. 30, 2001) Detroit Michael L. Zaleski; Horan v. Cutler Hammer Inc. Richard J. Williams Jr. Alfred D. Dimiero 38 $55,000,000 Products liability Passaic Co., N.J., Super. Ct., No. Quarles & Brady, Madison, Remitted, on appeal Mella & Dimiero, Short Hills, N.J. PAS-L-3786-98 (Feb. 2, 2001) Wis.; McElroy, Deutsch & Mulvaney, Morristown, N.J. Burch v. Children's Hospital of Darrell Forgey and John Lawrence P. Grassini Orange County Thrift Stores Inc. Aitelli 40 $51,640,000 Personal injury Grassini & Wrinkle, Woodland Settled Hilsinger, Forgey, Hurrell & Orange Co., Calif., Super. Ct., No. Hills, Calif. 00CC00620 (May 24, 2001) Star, Los Angeles Service Vending Co. v. Wal-Mart James W. Newberry Todd Guthrie Stores Inc. Newberry, Haden, Cowherd, 41 $51,500,000 Tortious interference Corporate counsel, Wal- On appeal Bullock, Keck & McGinnis, Lawrence Co., Mo., Cir. Ct. (June Mart, Bentonville, Ark. 20, 2001) Springfield, Mo. Lockshaw v. Goodrich Corp. William B. Hanley Gregg C. Sindici 42 $50,800,000 Fraud Orange Co., Calif., Super. Ct., No. Law Offices of William B. Hanley, Littler Mendelson, San On appeal 00CC05238 (May 18, 2001) Irvine, Calif. Diego Jerry S. Phillips and Brian Youd v. Western International Lawrence H. Nagler and Joan M. Colligan Media 43 $50,690,000 Fraud Lewis Heard Richman, Mann, Chizever, On appeal Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. BC Nagler & Associates, Los Angeles Phillips & Duboff, Los 195853 (March 23, 2001) Angeles Copeland v. Dallas Home for Gail N. Friend and Alicia Jewish Aged Inc. Kenneth B. Chaiken K. Dowdy 44 $50,030,000 Nursing home negligence On appeal Dallas Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 98-Chaiken & Chaiken, Dallas Friend & Associates, 04690 (May 21, 2001) Houston GATX/Airlog Co. v. Evergreen Mark L. McAlpine Steven C. Neal International Airlines Inc. (counterplaintiff) Part settled, on 45 $47,500,000 Fraud, breach of contract Cooley Godward, San N.D. Calif., No. C 96-2494 (March McAlpine & McAlpine, Bloomfield appeal Francisco 1, 2001) Hills, Mich. Honeywell International Inc. v. Robert G. Krupka; Jonathan Richard F. Ziegler Hamilton Sundstrand Corp. Putnam 46 $46,580,000 Patent infringement Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & On appeal Kirkland & Ellis, Los Angeles; D. Del., No. 99 CV 309 (Feb. 16, Hamilton, New York 2001) Kirkland & Ellis, New York Hugh V. Plunkett III; Douglas L. Peterson v. BASF Corp. Nill Brian O'Neill 47 $45,000,000 Consumer fraud class action Norman Co., Minn., Dist. Ct., No. Lockridge Grindal Nauen, Faegre & Benson, In motions C9-98-656 (Dec. 6, 2001) Minneapolis; solo practitioner, Minneapolis Minneapolis Darrell L. Barger and Tom Steve T. Hastings; Rebecca E. Ramos v. Bay Inc. Hermansen Hamilton 48 $44,730,000 Personal injury Jim Wells Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Barger, Hermansen, Pending motions Huerta & Hastings, Corpus Christi, 98-02-36425 (Dec. 13, 2001) McKibbin & Villareal, Texas; Sumner, Schick, Dallas Corpus Christi Bruce v. Davis Jay W. Manuel and Waylon Thompson Kegan Phillip Davis 49 $44,610,000 Wrongful death Bay Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. 98-2818 Seeking collection Manuel & Thompson, Panama pro se (April 16, 2001) City, Fla. Okebiyi v. Ramenofsky Nathan L. Dembin Neil B. Ptashnick No liability for 50 $44,040,000 Medical malpractice Kings Co., N.Y., Super. Ct., No. Nathan L. Dembin & Associates, Ptashnick & Schutzman, defense 6466/97 (June 5, 2001) New York New York Sidney W. Gilreath and Diane Manes v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. Paul Dunn Lashmit 51 $44,000,000 Personal injury Knox Co., Tenn., Cir. Ct., No. 2- Dunn, MacDonald & In motions Gilreath & Associates, Knoxville, 537-00 (Sept. 20, 2001) Coleman, Knoxville Tenn. Stephen O'Day; William Robert F. Prince; Charles Chandler v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Traeger "Ward" Pearson 52 $43,800,000 Environmental property damage Hale Co., Ala., Cir. Ct., No. CV 97- Smith, Gambrell & Russell, In motions Prince Patterson, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; 071 (Oct. 3, 2001) Atlanta; Manley, Traeger, Pearson & Smithhart, Tuscaloosa Perry, Demopolis, Ala. John E. Galloway; Cliffe E. Laborde Becker v. Tidewater Inc. James P. Roy Galloway, Johnson, 53 $43,500,000 Personal injury W.D. La., No. 99-1198 (July 19, Domengeaux, Wright Roy & On appeal Tompkins, New Orleans; 2001) Edwards, Lafayette, La. Laborde & Neuner, Lafayette Sanchez v. Parke-Davis Co. Mikal C. Watts Sawnie T. McEntire 54 $43,000,000 Products liability Nueces Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Watts & Heard, Corpus Christi, Beirne, Maynard & Settled 00-6523-F (Dec. 21, 2001) Texas Parsons, Houston Stinson v. Rockin' W Trucking John W. Tavormina David E. Brothers 55 $41,680,000 Wrongful death Harris Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 98- Helm, Pletcher, Bowen & Boswell, Hallmark & Remitted, resolved 08458 (March 16, 2001) Saunders, Houston Brothers, Houston Ibarra v. Gateway Hotel Holdings Debbie S. Champion John G. Simon Inc. Rynearson, Suess, 56 $41,100,000 Personal injury Simon, Lowe and Passanante, St. In motions Schnurbusch & Champion, St. Louis City Cir. Ct., No. 992- Louis 07067 (Dec. 11, 2001) St. Louis Bradford M. Brush; Thomas P. Hanna Cargile v. ACandS Inc. Gary J. Ignatowski Gollatz, Griffin & Ewing, 57 $40,330,000 Asbestos personal injury Baltimore City Cir. Ct., No. 24-X- Law Offices of Peter Angelos, In motions Philadelphia; Kelley, 00000381 (Dec. 5, 2001) Baltimore Jasons, McGuire, Philadelphia NEON Systems Inc. v. New Era Chris Reynolds and Jean C. David J. Beck of Networks Inc. 58 $39,000,000 Trade name infringement Frizzell Beck, Redden & Secrest, Settled Fort Bend Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., Gibbs & Bruns, Houston Houston No. 109,470 (June 1, 2001) Morrison v. Ahmad John J. Nicolini Christopher Jon Longman 59 $37,120,000 Personal injury New York Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. Nicolini, Paradise, Feretti & Pending appeal Ginsberg & Broome, New York 108369/96 (Aug. 23, 2001) Sabella, Mineola, N.Y. Patrick J. Stapleton; Naomi A. Plakins Fallon v. Patel James Beasley Sr. Weber Goldstein 60 $37,000,000 Medical malpractice Philadelphia Ct. C.P., No. 9712- Beasley, Casey & Erbstein, Settled Greenberg & Gallagher; 0881 (Sept. 16, 2001) Philadelphia Plakins Rieffel, Doylestown, Pa. Tedesco v. Paul Revere Life D. Frank Winkles Insurance Co. Timon Sullivan 61 $36,700,000 Breach of contract The Swope Law Group, Tampa, In motions Ogden & Sullivan, Tampa M.D. Fla., No. 8:99CV2552-T- Fla. 27MAP (June 24, 2001) Wells v. Gasket Holdings Inc. fka Paul E. Hamilton; Sharla Ian P. Cloud Flexitallic Inc. J. Frost 62 $35,200,000 Asbestos personal injury Robins, Cloud, Greenwood & On appeal Jefferson Co., Texas, Dist Ct., No. DeHay & Elliston, Dallas; Lubel, Houston A-161,748 (Feb. 13, 2001) Powers & Frost, Houston Lopez v. New York City Health Steven E. Pegalis Luke Pittoni and Hospitals Corp. 63 $35,000,000 Medical malpractice Pegalis & Erickson, Lake Success, Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Settled Queens Co., N.Y., Super. Ct., No. N.Y. Bach, New York 12228/91 (May 11, 2001) Stoddart v. Peccole Richard McKnight Marc P. Cook Reduced on 64 $33,000,000 Breach of contract Clark Co., Nev., Dist. Ct., No. A- Law Offices of Richard McKnight, Cook & Kelesis, Las Vegas judgment 353258, (Jan. 17, 2001) Las Vegas Farnham v. Watson Wyatt & Co. Lewis R. Clayton Peter A. Biagetti 65 $32,160,000 Actuarial malpractice D. Conn., No. 3:99 CV 00792 (Feb. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Increased, resolved 23, 2001) Garrison, New York Glovsky and Popeo, Boston Ballard v. Fire Insurance Robert F. Scheihing Exchange William Fred Hagans 66 $32,120,000 Insurance bad faith Adami, Goldman & On appeal Hagans, Bobb & Burdine, Houston Travis Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 99- Shuffield, San Antonio 05252 (June 1, 2001) Levinsky v. Painter Eleni Coffinas Bruce G. Habien 67 $31,020,000 Medical malpractice New York Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Martin, Clearwater & Bell, Settled 115754/00 (Feb. 1, 2001) Cannavo, New York New York Jimenez v. Ford Motor Co. Mike Eidson Benjamine Reid Net $15.4M, on 68 $30,700,000 Products liability Miami-Dade Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. Colson Hicks Eidson, Miami Carlton Fields, Tampa, Fla. appeal 99-14353 CA 09 (Sept. 20, 2001) Jones v. Toro Co. John A. Wenke Chris Marie Borunda 69 $30,500,000 Employment, retaliation El Paso Co., Texas, Dist. Ct. No. In motions Solo practitioner, El Paso, Texas Carr Flora, El Paso 2000-2429 (Nov. 11, 2001) Hogue v. Columbia/HCA Kevin L. Wentz Healthcare Corp. Mark S. Werbner 70 $30,200,000 Medical malpractice Fraley, Fraley & Wentz, Reduced, in motions Sayles, Lidji & Werbner, Dallas Dallas Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Dallas DV 99-01417-L (Nov. 8, 2001) Bryant. v. LaGrange Memorial Bruce R. Pfaff David C. Hall Hospital No liability for 71 $30,000,000 Medical malpractice Bruce R. Pfaff & Associates, Lord Bissell & Brook, defense Cook Co., Ill., Cir. Ct., No. 96 L Chicago Chicago 11679 (Aug. 8, 2001) International Insurance Co. v. William A. Brewer III RSR Corp. R. Brent Cooper 71 $30,000,000 Insurance coverage (counterplaintiff) In motions Cooper & Scully, Dallas N.D. Texas, No. CA#3-00CV0250- Bickel & Brewer, Dallas P (Aug. 27, 2001) D. Ferguson McNiel III; Douglas v. North American Karl E. Novak; Glen W. Morgan Michael D. Heintzman Refractories Co. Ness, Motley, Loadholt, 73 $29,740,000 Asbestos personal injury Vinson & Elkins, Houston; Judgment stayed Charleston, S.C.; Reaud, Morgan, Orange Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. A- Heintzman, Warren, Wise & Beaumont, Texas 920,961-SC(14) (April 25, 2001) Fornella, Pittsburgh Tutor-Saliba-Perini J.V v. Los David B. Casselman Angeles County MTA (counterplaintiff) Nomi Castle 74 $29,000,000 False claims On appeal Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. Wasserman, Comden, Casselman Castle & Lax, Los Angeles BC123559 (Aug. 1, 2001) & Pearson, Los Angeles SunCor Development Co. v. Daryl M. Williams; Steve Michael C. Manning Gervais Bergstrom Corp. 75 $28,600,000 Commercial fraud (counterplaintiff) Baird, Williams, Phoenix; Reduced, settling Maricopa Co., Ariz., Super. Ct., Morrison & Hecker, Phoenix general counsel SunCor, No. CV 98-11472 (March 15, 2001) Phoenix Stixrood v. Texas Department of David B. Strain Transportation Brian S. Loughmiller 76 $28,000,000 Wrongful death Office of the Attorney On appeal Solo practitioner, McKinney, Texas Collin Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. General, Austin, Texas 296-782-97 (April 27, 2001) Jay D. Branderbuilt and Rapp v. Singh John Kelly and Scott Balber Timothy P. Dronson 77 $27,740,000 Wrongful death E.D. Pa., No. 00-2741 (May 9, In collections Kelly & Balber, New York Kent & McBride, 2001) Philadelphia Christian Siragusa; Ava Ivan S. Schneider and Joseph S. Diaz v. City of New York Safir Rosato 78 $26,320,000 Personal injury Kings Co., N.Y., Super. Ct., No. Certilman Balin, East Settled Schneider, Kleinick, Weitz, 34949/92 (Jan. 17, 2001) Meadow, N.Y.; asst. corp. Damashek & Shoot, New York counsel, City of New York Lambert v. General Motors Corp. Michael J. Piuze Vincent Galvin Jr. San Bernardino Co., Calif., Super. 79 $25,700,000 Products liability Law Offices of Michael J. Piuze, Bowman and Brooke, San On appeal Ct., No. RCV RCV 19570 (Jan. 19, Los Angeles Jose, Calif. 2001) Raytheon Co. v. Learjet Inc. Ron A. Sprague Harold H. Walker Jr. 80 $25,200,000 Breach of contract Hunt Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Gendry & Sprague, San Pending appeal Rose Walker, Dallas 62,284 (Dec. 10, 2001) Antonio Wester v. Check Thomas R. Kline and Robert John J. Snyder 81 $25,000,000 Medical malpractice Philadelphia Ct. C.P., Nov. Term Ross Rawle & Henderson, In collections 1997, No. 3833 (May 10, 2001) Kline & Spector, Philadelphia Philadelphia State of Alabama v. Hunt John T. Crowder Jr. Frederick G. Helmsing Petroleum Corp. 82 $24,600,000 Fraud Cunningham, Bounds, Yance, Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, In motions Mobile Co., Ala., Cir. Ct., No. CV- Crowder & Brown, Mobile, Ala. Newman & Rouse, Mobile 99-2526 (Dec. 13, 2001) Beddingfield v. Mercer Trucking Jack J. Hall Jr. Inc. Donald F. Wiginton 83 $24,500,000 Wrongful death Hall, Conerly, Mudd & On appeal Jefferson Co., Ala., Cir. Ct., No. Solo practitioner, Birmingham, Ala. Bolvig, Birmingham CV 00-0391 (Nov. 9, 2001) Shane F. Langston and Dennis Whitman B. Johnson III Johnston v. Jackson HMA Inc. C. Sweet III and Lisa Williams 84 $23,000,000 Medical malpractice Hinds Co., Miss., Cir. Ct., No. 251- On appeal Langston, Sweet & Freese, Currie Johnson Griffin 99-1113 CIV (Oct. 5, 2001) Jackson, Miss. Gaines & Myers, Jackson James E. Brazeau and Goll v. Schrock Howard J. Victor Jean M. O'Brien 85 $22,630,000 Medical malpractice Washtenaw Co., Mich., Cir. Ct., Worsham, Victor & Ahmad, Resolved Robison, Curphey & No. 99-5226-NH (May 22, 2001) Southfield, Mich. O'Connell, Toledo, Ohio Mosca v. Farallon Decatur John E. Gormley Meadows Ltd. Marc P. Cook Rawlings, Olson, Cannon, 86 $22,400,000 Personal injury Pending appeal Clark Co., Nev., Dist. Ct., No. Cook & Kelesis, Las Vegas Gormley & Desruisseaux, A378165 (Dec. 17, 2001) Las Vegas Laguna Resources Inc. v. Jeffrey E. Friedman; Edward R. Seminole Electric Cooperative David B. Anderson Jackson 87 $22,200,000 Fraud, misrepresentation Walston, Wells, Anderson & On appeal Inc. Friedman, Leak, Birmingham, Ala.; Bains, Birmingham Walker Co., Ala., Cir. Ct., No. CV Tweedy, Jackson, Jasper, Ala. 98-561 (June 25, 2001) Bonton v. Copperas Cove L.L.C. Deanna D. Smith Jeff E. Rusk 88 $21,560,000 Wrongful death Bell Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Smith, Rymer, Moore & Reduced by caps The Rusk Law Firm, Austin, Texas 183,293-B (Dec. 11, 2001) Moos, Houston Kimball v. Southern California Christine D. Spagnoli and Friedrich W. Seitz Edison Browne Greene 89 $21,100,000 Personal injury Murchison & Cumming, Los Net $16.9 million Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. BC Greene, Broillet, Taylor, Wheeler & Angeles 210020 (July 13, 2001) Panish, Santa Monica, Calif. Whitener v. Aon Corp. L. Richard Musat Jerry A. Latherow Net 18.95 M, on 90 $21,050,000 Wrongful death Cook Co., Ill., Cir. Ct., No. 97 L Treece, Alfrey, Musat & Latherow Law Office, Chicago appeal 13636 (Jan. 23,2001) Bosworth, Denver Lopez v. Three Rivers Electric Grant L. Davis David P. Madden Cooperative 91 $21,000,000 Wrongful death Davis Bethune & Jones, Kansas Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & On appeal St. Louis City Cir. Ct., No. 952- City, Mo. Smith, Overland Park, Kan. 09491 (June 5, 2001) Wilt v. Durst Edward Blumenthal Steven Ray Young 91 $21,000,000 Legal malpractice Orange Co., Calif., Super. Ct., No. The Law Offices of Lee H. Settled Solo practitioner, Los Angeles 810918 (Oct. 5, 2001) Durst, Santa Ana, Calif. Bustos v. Leiva William Andrew Haggard Daniel Draper Jr. 93 $20,980,000 Personal injury Miami-Dade Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. Haggard, Parks, Haggard & Settled Kubicki Draper, Miami 01-13370 CA 30 (Dec. 14, 2001) Bologna, Coral Gables, Fla. Young v. Zitomer Kevin H. Wright Robert Ross 94 $20,800,000 Medical malpractice Philadelphia Ct. C.P., March Term Kevin H. Wright & In motions Kline & Specter, Philadelphia 1999, No. 001993 (Nov. 16, 2001) Associates, Blue Bell, Pa. Dianna J. Lyons and Francis E. Hardcastle v. J-M A/C Pipe Corp. Jeffrey N. Haney Fernandez 95 $20,500,000 Asbestos personal injury Alameda Co., Calif., Super. Ct., Bishop, Berry, Howe, On appeal Kazan, McClain, Edises, Simon, No. 830058-2 (April 6, 2001) Haney, Emeryville, Calif. Oakland, Calif. Richard J. Arsenault; Walter C. In re Gramercy Plant Explosion Ernest P. Gieger Jr. and Dumas at Kaiser Sharon D. Smith No liability for 96 $20,300,000 Products liability Neblett, Beard, Alexandria, La.; St. James Parish, La., Dist. Ct., Pulaski Gieger & Laborde, defense Dumas & Associates, Baton No. 25975 (Nov. 19, 2001) New Orleans Rouge, La. Boryszewski v. Burke Stuart M. Feinblatt and Eric I. Robert Michael Hanlon Jr. Abraham and Robert M. Cook 97 $20,000,000 Products liability Hudson Co., N.J., Super. Ct., No. In motions Sills Cummis Radin Tischman Hanlon & Lavigne, Edison, HUD-L-9726-98 (Nov. 19, 2001) Epstein & Gross, Newark, N.J. N.J. Harlow v. Hopeman Brothers John E. Herrick Sidney G. Leech Inc. Ness, Motley, Loadholt, 98 $19,860,000 Asbestos personal injury Goodell, Devries, Leech & Reduced, on appeal Richardson & Poole, Mount Baltimore City Cir. Ct., No. 99- Dann, Baltimore 001607 (March 20, 2001) Pleasant, S.C. David P. Bertsch; Joel R. Seelke v. Buckeye Egg Farm Campbell Thomas L. Rosenberg L.P. 99 $19,700,000 Negligence, nuisance Buckingham, Doolittle, Akron, and Rex A. Littrell Settled Licking Co., Ohio, Ct. C.P., No. 99 Ohio; Campbell, Nagel, Columbus, Ulmer & Berne, Columbus CV 365 (Sept. 9, 2001) Ohio Sonat Exploration Co. v. Cudd H. Dwayne Newton Sam F. Baxter; R. Keith Jarrett Pressure Control Inc. Nelson McCormack, 100 $19,400,000 Breach of contract McKool Smith, Dallas; Liskow & On appeal Harrison Co., Texas, Dist.Ct., No. Hancock & Newton, Lewis, New Orleans 99-0199-01 (Aug. 1, 2001) Houston

Top Defense Wins Return to top CASE TYPE CASE NAME PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY DEFENSE ATTORNEY EXPLANATION A train derailment causes the Ted B. Lyon; H. Grady David B. Potter; Randy J. Cox release of 130,000 pounds of Austin v. Montana Rail Link Chandler Oppenheimer Wolff, chlorine and the three-week Toxic tort D. Mont., No. CV 99-39-M-LBE (April 13, Ted B. Lyon & Assoc., Minneapolis; Boone Karlberg, evacuation of a town, but a jury 2001) Mesquite, Texas; Brown, Missoula, Mont. clears the railroad of charges of Brown, Garland, Texas negligence. Plaintiffs charge Motorola with Baker v. Motorola Inc. Robert L. Jennings Jr. diminishing property values of land Garrett B. Johnson Environmental damage Maricopa Co., Ariz., Super. Ct., No. CV92- Goldberg, Perdky, Jennings & around a Superfund site, but a jury Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago 02603 (May 22, 2001) White, Pittsburgh finds contamination of groundwater did not affect real estate prices. In the first trial over claims of Ballinger v. Brush Wellman Inc. Allen M. Stewart and Steve B. Sydney B. McDole beryllium poisoning at the Rocky Products liability Jefferson Co., Colo., Dist. Ct., No. 96-CV- Jensen Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Flats nuclear weapons plant, Brush 2532 (June 26, 2001) Baron & Budd, Dallas Dallas Wellman succeeds in holding the plant operators responsible. Michelin wins a tire-separation Benavides v. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. Mikal C. Watts Thomas M. Bullion III products defense in a plaintiff- Products liability Jim Wells Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 99-08- Watts & Heard, Corpus Christi, Brown McCarroll, Austin, friendly county againstone of the 37836 (Nov. 30, 2001) Texas Texas nation's hottest trial lawyers.

In the first-ever trial over the Texas Brewer v. Chang Health Care Liability Act, a jury finds Ryan Krebs John B. Scott a Texas HMO not liable for the Violations of health care act Tom Green Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. Krebs & Webre, Austin, Texas Susman Godfrey, Dallas death of a patient who died after A991336-C (July 2, 2001) coverage was denied for a lung transplant. Michael E. Waldeck; Basil L. Attorneys for a Kansas sheriff's Caban v. Sedgwick Co. Sheriff's Department North Jr. Alan L. Rupe department used the plaintiff's own Civil rights Niewald, Waldeck, Kansas Husch & Eppenberger, testimony to convince a jury there D. Kans., No. 98-1196-CM (May 21, 2001) City, Mo.; Solo practitioner, Wichita, Kan. was no racial harassment or hostile Kansas City work environment. A prominent family of Beaumont, Greg Thompson Texas, accuses DuPont of polluting Cordts v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. Provost Umphrey, Beaumont, Environmental Damond R. Mace family land, but DuPont defeats a E.D. Texas, No. 1:99CV85 (March 13, 2001) Texas Squire, Sanders & $170 million claim by educating the Dempsey, Cleveland jury on the geology of the location. The tobacco industry wins the first Steven Kent Hunter; Philp Fontana v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Jonathan M. Engram secondhand smoke flight attendant Gerson Products liability Miami-Dade Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. 00- Womble Carlyle Sandridge & trial despite court findings that Angones Hunter, Miami; 01731CA (09) (April 5, 2001) Rice, Winston-Salem, N.C. settlement in class action Gerson & Davis, Miami constituted an admission of liability. In a bet-the-company case covering Ron E. Shulman and James three-fourths of defendant Intel Corp. v. Broadcom Corp. John E. Gartman C. Yoon Patent infringement Broadcom Corp.'s product lines, a D. Del., No. 00-796RRM (Dec. 14, 2001) Fish & Richardson, San Diego Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Delaware jury finds no infringement Rosati, Palo Alto, Calif on either patent at issue. Multiple plaintiffs charge Thomas & Richard E. Sarver; Ernest L. Ernest P. Gieger Jr. and Betts with causing the electrical In re Gramercy Plant Explosion at Kaiser Edwards Sharon D. Smith outage that set off an explosion Products liability St. James Parish, La., Dist. Ct., No. 25975 Stone, Pigman, Walther, New Pulaski Gieger & Laborde, destroying a plant, but after plaintiffs (Nov. 19, 2001) Orleans; Lemle & Kelleher, New Orleans reject settlement a jury finds no New Orleans liability. The EEOC determines an African- Holly Waldron Lewis v. EGL Inc. American freight handler was U.S. Equal Employment Nancy L. Patterson Employment discrimination W.D. Okla., No. Civ.-00-751-R (March 29, subjected to harassment and Opportunity Commission, Littler Mendelson, Houston 2001) discrimination and leads the civil Oklahoma City trial, but a jury rejects the claim. Despite adverse publicity over Ford Explorer rollovers and Firestone Maier v. Ford Motor Co. Ronald Cabaniss Anthony L. Vitullo tires, a Texas jury finds no defects Products liability Hunt Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 58942 (April 4, Cabaniss, Smith, Toole, Fletcher & Springer, Dallas and no negligence for Ford in an 2001) Wiggins, Maitland, Fla. action arising out of a death in a rollover. Laurence W. Watts; David Alan A Los Angeles jury finds a reality TV Marich v. MGM/UA Telecommunications Inc. Cooper Mark Helm show did not violate the privacy of a Invasion of privacy Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. BC176082 (Aug. Watts & Associates, Missouri Munger, Tolles & Olson, Los couple informed on the air of the 1, 2001) City, Texas; solo, Glendale, Angeles death of their son. Calif. A pathologist is cleared of charges Mauk v. Williams Donald Bivens Douglas W. Seitz and Gina that he was negligent in failing to Medical malpractice Maricopa Co., Ariz., Super. Ct., No. CV-99- Meyer, Hendricks & Bivens, Rossano detect evidence of cancer in the 18707 (March 16, 2001) Phoenix Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix biopsy of a young breast cancer patient. Defense attorneys convince jury Jack E. Urquhart and Laura E. Mercado v. Warner-Lambert Co. George M. Fleming that an FDA decision to take the DeSantos Products liability Harris Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 2000-42692 Fleming & Associates, diabetes drug Rezulin off the market Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, (Dec. 17, 2001) Houston did not mean the drug was defective Houston or unreasonably dangerous.

Moylan v. National Health Care Corp. Michael K.Houtz and Alejandro George Quintairos and A nursing home in Florida is cleared Fiol Edward C. Prieto of charges of neglect in the death of Nursing home negligence Sarasota Co., Fla., Cir. Ct., No. 20005138 CA Morgan Colling & Gilbert, Quintairos McCumber Prieto & an elderly man with stage IV (Oct. 30, 2001) Tampa, Fla. Wood, Miami pressure sores. A Los Angeles jury clears the John J. Quinn; Joseph M. Allen Ruby; James Keyte National Football League of charges Oakland Raiders v. National Football League Alioto Ruby & Schofield, San Jose, that the league blocked the Raiders Breach of fiduciary duty Los Angeles Super. Ct., No. BC 206388 (May Arnold & Porter, Los Angeles; Calif.; Skadden, Arps, New from obtaining a state-of-the-art 26, 2001) Offices of Joseph M. Alioto, York stadium and forced the team out of San Francisco town. In a state where plaintiffs' verdicts Michael J. Malouf Sr. and Palmer v. Volkswagen of America Inc. David L. Ayers and Jimmy B. are common and substantial, Michael J. Malouf Jr. Products liability Hinds Co., Miss., Cir. Ct., No. 251-98-1112 Wilkins Volkswagen defeats a products Malouf & Malouf, Jackson, (March 27, 2001) Watkins & Eager, Jackson claim over the death of a child killed Miss. by an air bag. The maker of an electric gate motor P. Beach Kuhl; Michael Welch Stephenson v. The Stanley Works Debra L. Bridges wins a wrongful death of Sedgwick, Detert, San Products liability Alameda Co., Calif., Super. Ct., No. 7682436 Bridges Law Firm, San child/products liability action after Francisco; Caudle Welch, (June 5, 2001) Francisco defense attorneys spring a trap on a Concord, Calif. lead expert for the plaintiffs. Jacksonville, Fla., police are cleared Linnes Finney; Noel Lawrence Brian M. Flaherty and Paul of civil rights violations over a Stevenson v. City of Jacksonville Gary, Williams, Parenti, Stuart, McLester shooting death, despite testimony of Civil rights M.D. Fla., No. 2001-13256 (Feb. 21, 2001) Fla.; Solo practitioner, Assistant general counsel, City the sheriff that he intended to fire Jacksonville, Fla. of Jacksonville the shooting officer over the incident. Return to top Breach of Contract

Jury Renders $108 Million Verdict Favoring Heiress Verdict: $108,240,000.00 Case Type: Fraud Case: Cristina Brittingham Sada De Ayala v. Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham, et al., No. 98- CVQ-01092-D3 Court: Webb County District Court, 341st, TX Judge: Elma T. Salinas Ender Verdict Date: 05-17-2001

Plaintiff(s) Attorney:

● Brynley James, III; Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P.; San Antonio, TX, for Cristina Brittingham Sada De Ayala ● Carlos M. Zaffirini, Sr.; Zaffirini and Castillo; Laredo, TX, for Cristina Brittingham Sada De Ayala ● Guadalupe Castillo; Zaffirini and Castillo; Laredo, TX, for Cristina Brittingham Sada De Ayala ● Peter C. Houtsma; Holland & Hart, L.L.P.; Denver, CO, for Cristina Brittingham Sada De Ayala

Expert:

● Erich Speckin; Document Examination; Okamos, MI called by: Carlos Zaffirini, Sr.

Demonstrative Evidence: Used Trial Director for an audio/visual presentation of depositions, etc. on a six- foot screen

Defendant(s) Attorney:

● Alberto Alarcon; Hall, Quintanilla & Alarcon, L.C.; Laredo, TX, for Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham ● Guillermo G. Alarcon; Hall, Quintanilla & Alarcon, L.C.; Laredo, TX, for Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham ● Gustavo T. Quintanilla; Hall, Quintanilla & Alarcon, L.C.; Laredo, TX, for Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham ● Horace C. Hall III; Hall, Quintanilla & Alarcon, L.C.; Laredo, TX, for Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham ● Jesus Dominguez; Laredo, TX, for Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham ● Louis P. LaVaude; Laredo, TX, for Ana Maria De La Fuente De Brittingham

Expert:

● Albert Lyter Iii; Document Examination; Raleigh, NC called by: Horace Hall III,Alberto Alarcon,Guillermo Alarcon,Gustavo Quintanilla,Jesus Dominguez,Louis LaVaude

Demonstrative Evidence: Used ELMO with a television monitor

A Webb County jury awarded an heiress $108 million May 17 after finding her stepmother failed to comply with the terms of a valid promissory note and guaranty agreement. Cristina Brittingham Sada de Ayala is the daughter of the late prominent Mexican businessman Don Juan R. Brittingham. She maintained she gave her father $33,990,000 in 1990 to invest for her. The money was deposited into an account under the name of Jubrico Investments, Ltd. and was controlled by Brittingham. Brittingham died on Jan. 14, 1998. Cristina said she subsequently entrusted the funds to her stepmother, Ana Maria de la Fuente Brittingham, who Brittingham married in 1986.

Lead plaintiff attorney Carlos Zaffirini Sr. said Cristina testified that as the holder of a promissory note and of a guaranty/security agreement, she made a demand for payment of Ana Maria and her companies, but they refused to pay. She then sued alleging breach of contract, fraudulent transfer and fraud.

She claimed that beginning in March of 1996, and continuing through January of 1997, her stepmother and defendant Raul Hernandez, conspiring with the active participation of Merrill Lynch U.S.A., Merrill Lynch Laredo, Merrill Lynch Singapore and Merrill Lynch Cayman, through their agents in Laredo, Texas, effected a series of transfers and transactions to hinder, delay and/or defraud Ana Maria's creditors, including Cristina, and convert their funds and/or encumbered funds and property.

Ana Maria denied Cristina delivered any money of her own to her father for investment and asserted that Ana Maria never received any part of those monies Cristina said she delivered to her father. The defendant, claiming the promissory note and the guaranty used by Cristina to bring the claim were forgeries, counterclaimed alleging fraud, conspiracy and forgery.

Zaffirini said the trial court granted partial summary judgment as to some of the causes of action against the Merrill Lynch defendants and the plaintiff non-suited the remaining unadjudicated claims against Merrill Lynch about three weeks before trial. During trial, the court granted an instructed verdict against some of Ana Maria's companies, Raul Hernandez and Jubrico Investments, Ltd., Zaffirini said.

Plaintiff counsel indicated they plan to appeal the summary judgment and instructed verdicts.

Defense counsel did not respond to a request for comments on this report.

Verdict Information: Plaintiff Victorious, Awarded $108 Million. The jury, after 18 days of trial, deliberated four hours before rendering its verdict that Ana Maria had given Cristina a promissory note along with a guaranty of the loan.

The jury of 10 men and two women, in a unanimous vote, found that: Cristina and Ana Maria did agree to the terms of a Nov. 28, 1996 guaranty agreement; that Cristina delivered more than $33.9 million to Jubrico or Brittingham in 1990 to be invested on her behalf; that Brittingham did not loan $33.9 million of Cristina's money to Ana Maria; and that Ana Maria failed to comply with the guaranty agreement. Jurors also found that Ana Maria, Sigfrid and Egyptian Lotus committed fraud and fraudulently transferred property, and that Ana Maria's actions were with malice.

To compensate Brittingham's daughter, they awarded her $47,000,000 for failure to comply with the guaranty agreement; $59,490,000 in fraud damages, $1,500,000 for fraudulent transfer of property, and $250,000 in punitive damages for a total award of $108,240,000.

The jury also found for Cristina and against Ana Maria on all elements of Ana Maria's counterclaim.