The City of Modesto, California, has settled a lawsuit for $912,500 with a woman named Silvina Martinez de Garcia. She alleged a city employee, George Duarte Vierra Jr., rear-ended her car at a busy intersection in July 2019. The settlement includes legal fees and other costs incurred by the city, bringing to the total costs to over $1 million. Martinez de Garcia underwent multiple surgeries for lower back injuries sustained in the accident. Vierra, a building maintenance specialist at the time of the accident, remains employed by the city. While the city did not admit fault, they paid to resolve the lawsuit with the help of their insurance policy.
The family of Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who was shot by a homeowner after knocking on the wrong door in Kansas City, Missouri, filed a civil lawsuit against the homeowner and the homeowner's association. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of both parties and seeks financial compensation for Yarl's injuries. Yarl was shot in the head and arm and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He is recovering, but struggling with schoolwork. The lawsuit accuses the homeowner, Andrew Lester, of not warning Yarl before shooting and failing to render aid. It also criticizes the homeowner's association for not educating residents about responsible gun use. Lester, who is white, maintains he believed Yarl was trying to break in to his home. Yarl's family emphasizes they are not alleging racial bias, but are seeking compensation “in excess of this Court’s jurisdictional limit,” as well having their legal fees covered.
The family of a 7-year-old Indianapolis Public Schools student with special needs has filed a lawsuit against the district after allegedly enduring months of physical abuse by classmates, encouraged by his teacher. The boy's mother reported his claims of being punched, slapped, and slammed to the floor in class, but her concerns were initially dismissed by school officials. Crucially, a video surfaced showing one such incident where the teacher filmed another student beating the boy. This evidence contradicted the teacher's claims that the boy was lying and led to an investigation by the Indiana Department of Child Services. The lawsuit alleges the teacher created a "fight club" environment and accuses the school of failing to protect the child despite his disabilities. The family is seeking punitive and compensatory damages, attorney fees, and is requesting a jury trial.
NFL player Rashee Rice is facing a lawsuit after a high-speed crash in Dallas on March 30th. Two victims, Edvard Petrovskiy and Irina Gromova, allege they sustained injuries in the multi-car pileup caused by Rice and his friend Theodore Knox. The lawsuit seeks at least $1 million in damages and an additional $10 million in punitive damages. According to police, Rice and Knox were racing on the highway when Rice lost control of his Lamborghini and triggered the crash. Both men fled the scene after the accident. Rice, a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, was driving the Lamborghini while Knox, a former teammate and SMU football player, was in a Corvette. The lawsuit argues that Rice's actions were reckless and resulted in serious injuries for the victims. Both Rice and Knox are facing criminal charges related to the crash.
Google agreed to pay $62 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the company violated user privacy by tracking location data even when users disabled location history. This settlement comes after an investigation revealed that Google continued to collect location data despite users opting out. The money will go into a fund managed by nonprofits that will be used to support and defend user privacy rights. This decision was challenged by an attorney representing some users in the class, who argued the money should be distributed directly to users and that some of the chosen nonprofits have ideological biases. The judge overseeing the case rejected these arguments and approved the settlement, noting that the court can ensure the funds are used appropriately. The settlement applies to U.S. residents who used Google products and had their location data stored while location history was disabled between 2014 and 2023.
Following investigative reports, a Minnesota Attorney General lawsuit has targeted four solar finance companies, including Dividend Finance, for alleged fraud. These companies are accused of working with a now-defunct solar installer, Vision Solar, who ripped off customers for over $25 million in multiple states. The lawsuit claims these lenders charged hidden fees, inflated solar panel prices by 30%, and left customers paying for inoperable systems. Dividend Finance, a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank, denies the accusations and plans to defend itself. Meanwhile, a Palm Beach County attorney in Florida is building a class action lawsuit against Dividend specifically. This lawyer aims to help customers escape their long-term loans for non-functional solar panels. Fifth Third Bank has specifically denied the claims and intend to defend against them "vigorously."
Ki Soon Hyun’s children hope their mother’s death serves as a wakeup call for Oregon’s social services system that’s intended to protect the state’s vulnerable residents. Hyun’s family on Wednesday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Human Services and Mount Hood Senior Living, a memory care facility in Sandy that she moved into just two days before her death after she wandered outside the facility and went missing. The lawsuit, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, alleges the state agency ignored red flags and failed to intervene to protect residents. Hyun, 83, was found deceased last year on Christmas Day in a wooded region about half a mile from Mount Hood Senior Living. Hyun, who had dementia, slipped outside the facility without any staff noticing on the morning of Dec. 24. The lawsuit seeks $17 million from Mount Hood Senior Living for Hyun’s pain and suffering and the family’s loss of her. The lawsuit also seeks up to $23 m illion from the Oregon Department of Human Services for its alleged lack of oversight, which includes allowing the facility to operate without an experienced and qualified manager.
A recent $16 million settlement highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding a tragic 2022 boat crash in Florida. The crash, which killed Luciana Fernandez and left Katerina Puig permanently disabled, involved prominent real estate broker George Pino at the helm. Katerina's family reached a confidential settlement with George Pino, while a separate settlement of $16 million was reached with his wife, Cecilia. This discrepancy in confidentiality has raised questions. Judges typically favor openness in settlements, but can allow confidentiality if both parties agree. Reasons for confidentiality can vary, but often involve privacy concerns or avoiding disclosure of financial details. The Puigs' lawsuit claimed both George and Cecilia Pino allowed underage drinking on the boat and were negligent in their supervision. Another lawsuit has been filed by the boat's insurance company, denying responsibility for the payout. While details differ, legal experts believe the Puigs and Cecilia Pino may be working together to fight the insurance company's denial of coverage.
Bank of America is facing a class action lawsuit settlement over hidden fees charged for incoming wire transfers. The lawsuit alleges the bank misled customers by not clearly disclosing a $15 fee for receiving money through wire transfer. Plaintiffs claim they were surprised by the charges and couldn't avoid them since the fee was described as "fee varies" and could change. Lawyers for the account holders argue Bank of America is an outlier in the industry, contrasting their practices with other banks that don't charge such fees, especially for domestic transfers. The lawsuit details how Bank of America withheld this crucial information compared to competitors like Wells Fargo, which clearly outlines any wire transfer fees. While details of the proposed settlement haven't been made public yet, both parties have reached a preliminary agreement to resolve the lawsuit.
Family of Murdered Nurse Sues Employer, State Over Workplace Safety Lapses
The family of Joyce Grayson, a visiting nurse murdered last October in Willimantic, Connecticut, is holding a press conference today to announce legal action. Her daughter, Kaitlyn, will be present alongside attorneys. Grayson was killed during a routine medical appointment for a convicted rapist at a halfway house. Grayson's body was found strangled with serious bodily injuries in the basement of the property. The lawsuit targets both the State of Connecticut and Grayson's employer, Elara Caring. The family alleges Elara Caring ignored safety concerns regarding dangerous patients and exposed employees to violence Federal investigators back this claim, and Elara Caring is facing fines for failing to protect Grayson. The press conference will also address the need for stricter oversight of halfway houses and stronger worker safety regulations in the healthcare industry. Elara Caring was previously fined over $163,000 by OSHA over the incident.