Rudnicki v. Farmers Group, Inc., Farmers Insurance Exchange
Dec 14, 2021
OUTCOME: Plaintiff Verdict: $155.4 Million
Andrew Rudnicki was a devoted employee. At the time of his discharge he had been with Farmers for 37 years, beginning as a trial lawyer in 1979. Eventually, Rudnicki rose from supervising attorney to s...enior Vice President; position he held at the time of his termination. He was inexplicably fired within months of his anticipated testimony in a FEHA case (Coates v. Farmers). Afraid of his testimony – that would have shed light on inaction by Farmers – Farmers retaliated against Rudnicki and shamefully used him as a scapegoat in order to hide that it was their own failure to address the concerns Rudnicki raised on behalf of the eventual Coates Plaintiff’s that lead to the Coates litigation. The Jury agreed, and awarded $5.4M in compensatory damages and a groundbreaking punitive damages award of $150M against Farmers Insurance Exchange and Farmers Group Inc.
Personal injury
Martin v. Jewish Vocational Service, et. al.
Dec 07, 2018
OUTCOME: Plaintiff Verdict: $456,000
Plaintiff proves constructive notice of dangerous condition of chair and mechanism of injury. Injury/Premises Liability/Negligent Maintenance.
Verdict: $456,000
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff:
Nina P. Br...ahman (The Brahman Law Office APC)
Griselda S. Rodriguez (Rodriguez & Tran LLP)
Defendants:
Sonali Olson (Olson Law Group)
Joel E. Witzman (Olson Law Group)
Plaintiff Thomas Martin, 64, a disabled individual seeking employment, was referred by the CA Department of Rehabilitation to Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) in Los Angeles for vocational evaluation. On June 10, 2014, Plaintiff was sitting in a JVS office chair. As Plaintiff leaned his back to rest against the back of the chair, the chair collapsed, causing Plaintiff to fall backwards. JVS admitted that its inspections did not include turning the chairs over to inspect for loose bolts under the seat, but that any looseness would be evident from going up and down the chairs.
Plaintiff introduced evidence, through the defense employees and its safety expert Brad Avrit, that the JVS office chairs had manufacturers’ labels on them requiring that chairs be inspected every 3-6 months and all bolts, screws and other mechanic parts be tightened to avoid serious injury and that a structurally sound chair does not tip over by design. Plaintiff introduced evidence that the JVS office chairs were high-traffic and that they had not been replaced, maintained or inspected as required by the DOR and the manufacturers, for at least 7 years prior to Plaintiff’s fall.
JVS contended that JVS did not remove or dispose of any chairs in the testing center and that there was no notice of any alleged dangerous condition, despite daily use and inspections. JVS contended that employees and other clients of the organization sat on and operated the chairs daily without any complaints about stability either before or after the incident. JVS also contended that Martin did not complain about the chairs before or after the incident, attempting to negate notice of any dangerous condition.
JVS contended that since Plaintiff could not identify the specific chair he was using at the time of the incident, Plaintiff could not prove his case. Plaintiff argued that JVS, as the stronger party with the power to produce better evidence, should have produce the chair at trial, but instead had concealed the unfavorable evidence and covered up the incident.
The jury found that Jewish Vocational Service was negligent for the inspection and maintenance of their chairs and that its negligence was a substantial factor in causing Plaintiff Martin’s harm. The jury awarded Martin $456,000 in a 10-2 verdict.
Employment and labor
Albarracin v. Fidelity, et. al.
Apr 25, 2018
OUTCOME: Plaintiff Verdict: $2.2 Million
Wrongful termination involving allegations of sexual harassment. We were able to prove a sham investigation followed Ms. Albarracin’s reporting of her harassment claims; one in which Defendants protect...ed their prized attorney, while further victimizing their “disposable” paralegal.
JUDGEMENT:
Compensatory damages against Fidelity National Management Services, LLC and Fidelity National Financial, Inc: $250,000.00
Punitive damages against Fidelity National Financial, Inc: $1,950,000.00
ATTORNEY’S FEES:
Court awarded Plaintiff attorneys’ fees in the amount of $819,355.00 against Defendants Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and Fidelity National Management Services, LLC
Divorce and separation
CONTESTED DIVORCE
N/A
OUTCOME: Divorce finalized in January 2016
Dissolution of marriage filed in Ventura County in May 2015. My client was Respondent in said Contested Divorce. Division of property, retirement plan, workman's comp award, spousal support and child s...upport. Favorable settlement reached for my client.
