Case Results

 
sexual abuse, Case Results, Results of Civil Litigation

Throughout its existence, Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller & Sweet has successfully represented the interests of numerous victims of sexual abuse, as well as victims of a wide range of torts such as catastrophic personal injury and employment discrimination. Some of the firm’s more recent outstanding recoveries are in the following practice areas:

Sexual Abuse

$16,775,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Franciscans and the Archdiocese. After being asked to associate in as lead trial counsel on the first of 25 cases set for trial, NSHMS served as the lead negotiators for a group of lawyers representing 25 victims of clergy abuse by the Franciscan Friars. A global settlement of $28,450,000 was reached in 2006, including $16,775,000 to 14 victims represented by NPS&H.

$8,000,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. NSHMS was part of the team of lawyers negotiating the largest global settlement in the history of the clergy abuse scandal, $660,000,000 from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2007. NSHMS represented 8 victims of clergy abuse who received a total of $8,000,000 as part of the settlement.

$5,000,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Diocese of San Diego. NSHMS led the investigation into the Diocese’s handling of one of the most notorious perpetrators in the history of the clergy abuse scandal, Father Edward Anthony Rodrigue. The results of that investigation played a critical roll in the $198,000,000 global settlement reached in 2007 after the Diocese declared bankruptcy. NSHMS represented 4 victims of clergy abuse by Father Rodrigue who received a total of $5,000,000 as part of the global settlement.

$1,700,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Franciscans and the Archdiocese. In 1998, NSHMS sued the Franciscan Friars and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on behalf of one victim of convicted sex offender Father Robert Van Handel. After nearly three years of litigation, that lawsuit settled in the summer of 2000 for $1.7 million, the first seven-figure settlement before trial in the history of the clergy abuse scandal in the United States.

$1,400,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Diocese of Orange. NSHMS represented one of the plaintiffs in the 2004 $100,000,000 Diocese of Orange settlement, one of the largest global settlements in the history of the clergy abuse scandal.

$600,000 settlement for sexual abuse of a child by Franciscan brother Tom Thing. In 2010, NSHMS obtained a $600,000 settlement from the Franciscan Friars and the Diocese of Las Vegas on behalf of a man who was sexually abused as a child. As part of the settlement, the Defendants agreed to the disclosure of Brother Thing’s personnel file and other confidential records documenting his history of abuse.

$550,000 settlement for sexual abuse of dependent adult. In 2006 NSHMS obtained a $550,000 settlement on behalf of a dependent adult woman who was sexually assaulted by a caregiver employed by the facility where the dependent adult lived.

$500,000 settlement for sexual abuse of a child. In 2010, NSHMS obtained a $500,000 settlement on behalf of a man who was sexually abused as a child by two leaders of the Mormon church.

$475,000 settlement for sexual abuse by stepfather and negligence by mother. In 2006 NSHMS obtained a $475,000 settlement on behalf of a young woman abused as a child by her stepfather.

$250,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Jesuits. In 2003, NSHMS sued the California and Missouri Jesuits, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on behalf of one clergy abuse victim of a former Jesuit priest. Despite the fact that the client was the first and only victim of the abuser to come forward, NSHMS successfully negotiated a $250,000 settlement.

$985,000 settlement for sexual abuse of three children. In 2013, NSHMS obtained a settlement from the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose and the Diocese of Fresno on behalf of two men and one woman who were sexually abused as children by Roman Catholic Priest Father Don Flickinger.

Confidential settlement for sexual abuse of a child. In 2012, NSHMS obtained a confidential settlement on behalf of a man who was sexually abused as a child by a man who was both a Boy Scout leader and a leader of the Mormon church.

Confidential settlement for sexual abuse of a child. In 2015, after two weeks of trial, NSHMS obtained a confidential settlement on behalf of a man who was sexually abused as a child by a Boy Scout leader.

 

Personal Injury

$6 million settlement against property owner who negligently maintained their property despite prior notice resulting in catastrophic physical injuries to the firm’s clients.

$2.6 million judgment against a driver (and his employer) who struck a pedestrian. After a 15-day trial against the driver and his employer, the jury awarded $2.6 million to the pedestrian.

$2.35 million settlement against the driver in a hit-and-run accident.

$690,000 jury verdict in Santa Barbara for a client who suffered personal injuries when a defective chair broke at her place of employment.

$525,000 settlement with employer who negligently allow employee to sustain injury from a dog bite.

 

Employment

$3.2 million judgment against the City of Santa Barbara in a 5-week gender bias trial on behalf of two female police officers.

Confidential settlement on behalf of three firemen who alleged they were retaliated against based on their protected whistleblower activity.

Confidential settlement on behalf of three police lieutenants who alleged they were retaliated against based on their protected whistleblower activity.

Confidential settlement with Fortune 500 Aviation Company on behalf of individuals who claimed they were retaliated against based on their protected whistleblower activity.

Confidential settlement with pharmaceutical company on behalf of an individual who claimed she was retaliated against based on her protected whistleblower activity.

Confidential settlement with technology company on behalf of an individual who claimed she was subjected to harassment based on sex.

Summary judgment obtained on behalf of public entity client in case alleging claims for wrongful termination based on age discrimination.

Summary judgment obtained on behalf of public entity client in case alleging claims for harassment based on sex.

Summary judgment obtained on behalf of public entity client in case alleging retaliation based on protected whistleblower activity.

Public Entity

Jenkins v. County of Santa Barbara – Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a premises liability case.

Randolph v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

Brown v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

Guthrie v. Regents of the University of California­ - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in an employment case.

Miranda v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

Gaitan v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

Gugino v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

Paine v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

Elliott v. City of Lompoc - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a civil rights case.

King v. Regents of the University of California­ - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a personal injury case.

Sanabria v. Regents of the University of California­ - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a personal injury case.

Graven v. Regents of the University of California­ - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a personal injury case.

Zommer v. Regents of the University of California­ - Defense verdict on behalf of public entity client in a personal injury case.

Grigsby v. Regents of the University of California­ – Jury verdict beat 998 offer in stipulated liability case.

Intellectual Property

Successful defense of claims for patent infringement on behalf of inventor of process patent

Successful prosecution of trademark infringement claims on behalf of trademark holder against national clothing manufacturer

Successful prosecution of copyright infringement claims against major television studio on behalf of copyright holder

Successful prosecution of use of image and likeness claims against major motion picture studio on behalf of claimant

Successful defense of trademark infringement claims on behalf of prominent national recording artist

Successful defense of copyright infringement claims on behalf of prominent national athlete

Successful defense of trademark infringement claims on behalf of regional storage company

Successful prosecution of copyright infringement claims on behalf of app developer

Successful defense of breach of distribution contract claim on behalf of prominent record label

Successful defense of copyright infringement and image and likeness claims brought against producer client on behalf of national recording artist, and prosecution of counter claims for breach of contract