Attorney John C. Torjesen's Legal Cases

Admiralty and maritime

R. v. City of Morro Bay, No. CV01-4003.

N/A

OUTCOME: Case settled for $2,200,000.00.

A 18 foot skiboat left Morro Bay harbor after being told by city harbor patrol that it was safe to go out of the harbor. Winds and waves picked up and the boat capsized, drowning two young children. Ca ... se was referred after the statute of limitation had expired. We converted the case to maritime jurisdiction, which extended the statute of limitations and avoided â€œProp 51" and all state recreation and government immunities, and created a right to pre-death pain and suffering. We invited summary judgment to prove our point, which it did.

Personal injury

L. v. Krause, No. BC 283322

N/A

OUTCOME: Jury Verdict for $984,382.00.

Lazarus v. Krause, No. BC 283322. Result: $984,382.00. (top) Low speed automobile collision, 14 miles per hour. Neck and low back surgery two years after the accident. Defense argued that new surgery ... was needed because of progressive degeneration following plaintiffâ€™s previous back surgery five years prior to the collision. Offer $500,000.00. Demand $800,000.00.

Defective and dangerous products

E. v. Tandy, PC 019397

N/A

OUTCOME: Verdict for $762,814.36, plus $75,000 in attorneys fees under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

An 82 year old man installs a replacement garage door opener which overrides the automatic reversing mechanism of the door. When he tests door by trying to stop it with his arms, he is thrown to ground ... and sustains a T12-L1 compression fracture with conservative care. No loss of earnings. Pre-trial offer was $12,000.00.

Personal injury

P. v. Harrahâ€™s Laughlin, No. BC 195859.

N/A

OUTCOME: Settled for $1,225,000.00

A rigger on a twenty foot tower without a safety harness grabbed a cable at the top to re-position it in the pulley. As he touches the cable, he received an electrical shock and fell to the ground. Low ... back injury requiring surgical fusion. Plaintiff could no longer work as a rigger and instead became an airline pilot. Defendant claimed injuries were from lack of a harness and not from improper electrical gear. Settlement.

Personal injury

K. v. Phoenix Custom Service, No. EC 003041.

N/A

OUTCOME: Jury Verdict for $4,078,870.00

Circumstantial evidence was used to show that an unknown plumber must have cut an angle brace that was holding up exterior scaffolding that plaintiff had built contrary to code, causing him to drop 30 ... feet and suffer ankle fractures that required surgery and L3-4 and L4-5 low back compression fractures that required only conservative care. Plumbers testified and denied any interference with scaffolding braces. Defense claimed that scaffolding collapsed because it was weak. Demand $800,000. Offer $300,000.

Trucking accident

P. v. Larry Hall Trucking, No. 24 73 44,

N/A

OUTCOME: Jury Verdict for $6,337,504.00.

Six persons in a small pickup, three in front and three in the back, returning from Las Vegas at 4:30 in the morning, drove into the rear of a tractor trailer that was slowly going down a long hill. On ... e death, two paraplegia, one compression fractures and one hip dislocation. Defendant argued driver negligent and fatigued. Plaintiff argued that the truck was in the wrong lane. Offer was $75,000.00 and demand was $750,000.00.

Consumer protection

M. v. Giacomazza, No. BC 385946,

N/A

OUTCOME: Result: Judgment for 1291 acres of Malibu coastal property and for a Beverly Hills home.

Defendant scammed an 87 year old veteran out of 1291 acres of Malibu property having 2.75 miles of coastline, as well as his Beverly Hills home. The property was returned to plaintiff as taken by undue ... influence and fraud. This is believed to be the largest financial elder abuse recovery ever.

Consumer protection

X. v. Bluenose Trading, No. BC 377400.

N/A

OUTCOME: Judgment lien for $1,355,917.52 against shopping center

Defendant Gaum by a federal judgment owed plaintiffs $628,055.11, but he hid his assets with an elaborate structure of corporations and accommodating friends. Multiple state court judgments have been e ... ntered against the company owning and operating a shopping center, for helping Gaum hide his assets, more than doubling the recovery to plaintiffs.

John C. Torjesen's Legal Cases (8)

R. v. City of Morro Bay, No. CV01-4003.

L. v. Krause, No. BC 283322

E. v. Tandy, PC 019397

P. v. Harrahâ€™s Laughlin, No. BC 195859.

K. v. Phoenix Custom Service, No. EC 003041.

P. v. Larry Hall Trucking, No. 24 73 44,

M. v. Giacomazza, No. BC 385946,

X. v. Bluenose Trading, No. BC 377400.