Civil Cases
Iredale and Yoo have successfully tried and settled many cases over the last decade in cases involving violations of civil rights, police brutality, harassment and misconduct, police shootings, personal injury, and wrongful death. Here are some examples:
$2.2 Million Jury Award for Wrongful Detention and Excessive Force
Plaintiff Sergio Lopez was a twenty year veteran of federal law enforcement who worked for the Department of Homeland Security. On October 18, 2006, Sergio Lopez was a member of a surveillance team that was investigating a possible alien smuggling operation in Chula Vista. Agent Lopez was driving rapidly from one area to another while conducting surveillance. Defendant Chula Vista police officers pulled Mr. Lopez over and threw him against the car, causing spinal injury. This occurred despite Sergio Lopez notifying them that he was a federal agent and displaying his badge and credentials. The defendants’ vulgar remarks to him reflected that they were angry that he was driving "through their city." These Chula Vista personnel kept Special Agent Lopez handcuffed and seated on the ground for an hour, while demanding that various Customs supervisors appear at the scene.
A jury awarded $1,200,000 in compensatory damages and $1,000,000 in punitive damages.
$2.6 Million Jury Award in Embezzlement Case
A Navy veteran whose business partner embezzled $1.3 million from their company was awarded a $2.6 million jury verdict in San Diego Superior Court. Jurors deliberated less than a day before returning a verdict for Mr. Tony Pizarro. They awarded $1.3 million in economic damages, and $1.3 million in punitive damages.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060422/news_1b22embezzle.html
Jury Award against a Bounty Hunter and Former Mrs. America
Plaintiff G.E. Scott was married to former Mrs. America Jill Scott. Jill Scott divorced G.E. Scott and married a wealthy auto glass mogul she met in Las Vegas and moved to his million-dollar Arizona estate. G.E. Scott began working in a Taco Bell. Jill Scott then sued G.E. Scott for unpaid child support. Jill Scott and her husband Rick Chance then hired a lawyer and a bounty hunter to seize G.E. Scott from his home in Kansas and bring him to San Diego to face a charge of unpaid child support. G.E. Scott was shackled at gunpoint and driven to San Diego by the bounty hunters. The jury awarded a compensatory damage verdict of $215,300 and a punitive damage verdict of $475,000.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/classics/rick_chance/2.html
Settlement in Silva v. White
Franklin White, an off-duty police officer, shot Plaintiff Johnny Silva in the leg through the passenger side window after White was involved in a road rage incident with Johnny’s mom. Johnny underwent surgery to remove the bullet from his leg and was unable to walk for a time. The City of San Diego agreed to settle this matter for $500,000.00.
Click here for video interview of Johnny Silva.
Click here for San Diego Union Tribune article about the case.
Settlement against a Private Prison for Sexual Harassment
Several female prisoners were sexually harassed by defendant Jerry Baldwin who was a drug and alcohol counselor employed by the GRW Corporation in Brush, Colorado. This case settled for a substantial confidential amount.
Jury Award against a Doctor in Failed Tubal Ligation
In a medical malpractice case in which a doctor failed to properly ligate the Plaintiff’s Fallopian Tubes and Plaintiff subsequently gave birth to twins, the jury awarded the Plaintiff $993,308.00.
Settlement in a Jail Hog-Tie Case
Jail deputies hog-tied an overweight inmate, placing their weight on his back. The inmate suffocated to death. The case settled for $400,000.00.
Settlement in a Sexual Abuse Case in a Juvenile Facility
Plaintiffs were two seventeen year old girls in a juvenile detention center. They subjected to sexual misconduct of the corrections staff. Defendants argued that the sexual contact was consensual and that the girls initiated the contact. The case settled for $330,000.00.
Settlement in Wrongful Arrest against Chula Vista Police Department
Chula Vista Police Officers came to the Plaintiff’s home in the middle of the night to arrest the Plaintiff’s son for a suspected DUI. Plaintiff asked to see the warrant and the defendant officers dragged her out of her home and placed her under arrest. Chula Vista Police Department settled the case for $250,000.00.
Settlement in a Rape Case in a Colorado Prison
Plaintiff was sexually assaulted by a guard in a Colorado prison. The DOC settled the matter for $225,000.00.
http://www.westword.com/2005-05-12/news/if-the-shoe-fits/
Settlement in Wrongful Death against San Diego Police Department
Defendant officers pulled over the Plaintiff for a driving violation. When the Plaintiff did not immediately comply with orders, one of the Defendants punched him in the face and put a gun to the Plaintiff’s face. The Plaintiff attempted to drive away from the Defendants. Defendants claimed that they saw a toy gun in the car and that the Plaintiff was driving towards them. Defendants shot the Plaintiff multiple times and killed him. The San Diego Police Department settled the case before trial.
Settlement against a Doctor in a Medical Malpractice Case
Defendant doctor performed a laparoscopic bilateral tubal ligation. During the course of the surgery, the doctor perforated Plaintiff’s small intestine causing an infection. This case settled for a confidential amount.
Settlement against the FBI in Wrongful Arrest
A San Diego man wrongly arrested by an FBI received $190,000 from the federal agency. Julian Christopher Lee was arrested based on a warrant that was issued for his brother. In a separate suit, Lee won an additional $81,000 judgment against the San Diego Sheriff's Department, the agency which locked him up for five days after FBI arrested him.
Settlement against California Highway Patrol
Plaintiff was under arrest for suspected DUI. She had a pre-existing shoulder injury and asked the officer not to handcuff her to her back. The defendant officer pulled her arm back to place the handcuffs causing a fracture of the greater tuberosity of the humerus. The case settled for $95,000.00.
Settlement in a Harassment Case against a Parole Officer
Defendant parole officer repeatedly asked Plaintiff to come over to his house when his wife was out of town and asked her to accompany him on state sponsored training programs in the mountains. When Plaintiff resisted his advances, Defendant told her she was jeopardizing her freedom. Defendant left repeated messages on Plaintiff’s answering machine. The DOC settled this matter early in the case for $50,000.00