Case Results
6 MILLION DOLLAR VERIDCT IN A MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CASE
July 18, 2014
Client was admitted to a private locked psychiatric facility for evaluation and treatment for his depression and suicidal ideation. He was assessed and placed in a room with another patient. Shortly thereafter, Client was attacked by his roommate who was acutely psychotic, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenic and a recent history of bizarre behavior. As a result, Client suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Bernard Bernard argued that the hospital's charge nurse was negligent and reckless in her risk-violence assessment of the assailant in that she chose to ignore his recent psychiatric history, directly resulting in his placement in the same room with the Client. The jury found the the nurse was negligent and reckless and awarded the Client 6 Million dollars in damages.
RAPE
July 18, 2014
Victim testified that she did not engage in prostitution but claimed she was a USC student. Mr. Bernard was able to elicit testimony from the victim that she fabricated both stories. Jury acquitted the client.
MURDER
July 18, 2014
Client was charged with a 1st degree murder wounding victim 1 and killing victim 2. Mr. Bernard, through his own independent investigation, was able to find an independent witness who corroborated that defendant's description and that of other officers matched somebody other than defendant. Jury fully acquitted the client.
ATTEMPTED MURDER
July 18, 2014
Client was charged with attempted murder as an accessory. Mr. Bernard was able to get the case dismissed at a preliminary hearing by showing that defendant had no previous knowledge of assailant’s conduct in stabbing another party-goer.
KIDNAPPING / ASSAULT / WITNESS INTIMIDATION / DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
July 18, 2014
Client was charged with kidnapping, assault, witness intimidation, and felony domestic violence. The offer was a "strike" and 4 years in state prison. Mr. Bernard was able to work out a probationary suspended sentence and no jail time.
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON / MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL
July 18, 2014
The Client, represented by a public defender, was charged with an assault with a deadly weapon and inflicting grave bodily injuries. The Client had been in custody for 1 year when he was convictied in a jury trial. The family turned to Bernard & Bernard to seek new trial as the client was facing 7 years in state prison. By virtue of Bernard & Bernard's running a Motion for a New Trial on the basis of Ineffective Assitance of Counsel and Prosecutorial Misonduct, as well as preparing a thorough Sentencing Memorandum, the judge granted the client a probationary sentence and the client was released from jail the next morning to join his family. In addition, Ms. Klimianok was able to relieve the client of the liability to render payment to the public defender in the amount of over $10,000.
KIDNAPPING / ROBBERY / BURGLARY / WITNESS INTIMIDATION / FALSE IMPRISONMENT
July 18, 2014
Two former police officers were charged with kidnapping, robbery, burglary, false imprisonment, and witness intimidation for something they encountered doing private investigator work and were looking at 3-4 years in state prison, a felony conviction, and revocation of the PI license. Bernard & Bernard were able to work out a probationary sentence, early termination of probation after 1.5 years, and a reduction to a misdemeanor.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI)
July 18, 2014
Client was charged with driving under the influence with blood alchohol concentration of 0.20% (2.5 times over the legal limit). Ms. Klimianok was able to use the arresting officer's noncompliance with Title 17 procedures to completely dismiss the DMV case (saving the client's license), and negotiated a "dry reckless" disposition with the district attorney.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
July 18, 2014
Client was charged with domestic violence against his wife and father-in-law. Mr. Bernard was able to get the case dismissed based on the weaknesses in the People's case.
ASSAULT / BATTERY
July 18, 2014
Client, a youth baseball coach, was arrested for misdemeanor batter after he struck a victim, a local chiropractor, in the head, during a baseball game. The victim grabbed Client's wife by the wrists in a post-game fracas. The Victim had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was treated for a concussion and a cut on his face. Through the internal investigation and extensive negotiations with the Ventura County district attorney, as well as the detective on the case, Mr. Bernard was able to persuade the district attorney to not file charges against the Client.
CRIMINAL THREATS / TERRORIST THREATS
July 18, 2014
Client was charged with criminal threats and was facing life in prison. Bernard & Bernard took the case over from another attorney who was was attempting to persurade the client to accept 10 years in prison. Through skillful motion work and plea-bargaining using drug recovery experts, Bernard & Bernard obtained a probationary sentence for the client who was able to move back to Florida and reconcile with his family.
$3.3 MILLION VERDICT IN PREMISES LIABILITY CASE
July 18, 2014
During a church service, Client was trying to get up onto a 24 inch high portable stage that did not have steps and/or stairs attached to it. The Client lost his balance and fell backwards sustaining a complex hip fracture. Defense counsel argued that defendant was not at fault as the the stage equally safe with or without the stairs. Defense further argued that the fall did not cause the fracture and that the Client was comparatively negligent. The offer at the mediation was $33,000. Bernard & Bernard took the case to trial. The jury awarded the Client over $3,300,000 in damages, which was reduced per comprative liability offset.
$320,000.00 VERDICT IN A WRONGFUL TERMINATION CASE
July 18, 2014
School Principal and Secretary claimed wrongful termination and defamation. The School denied any liability and offered $5,000 and $10,000, respectively, in settlement of the case. As a result of a 15 day jury trial, Bernard & Bernard prevailed on the secretary's wrongful termination FEHA claim. allowing her to recover attorney's fees and costs, and on the defamation claims for both the secretary and the principal, for a total verdict of $320,000.
$300,000.00 UIM SETTLEMENT IN CAR ACCIDENT / TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CASE
July 18, 2014
The client was a passenger in another person's vehicle that was involved in a high impact collision. The driver of the other vehicle did not have insurance and was nowhere to be found. After several years of contentious negotiations with the insurance company under the Unisured Motorist policy provisions that denied that the client suffered any injuries at all, Bernard & Bernard were able to obtain a settlement in the amount over $300,000.
$150,000.00 SETTLEMENT IN NEGLIGENCE CASE
July 18, 2014
Defendant is engaged in medical transporation services for disabled inidividuals. The client, a legally blind man, sustained an ankle fracture when defendant's driver instructed client to enter a vehicle from the driver's side on a busy, hihgly congested street in a rainstorm. Defendants denied any liability and claimed that client was responsible for his own injuries as he should not have let go of his nephew accompanying him when he was entering the car. Bernard & Bernard settled the case for $150,000.
$350,000.00 SETTLEMENT IN DOG ATTACK CASE
July 18, 2014
The Client was walking her dog next o her residence when she was attacked by Defendant's two large dogs that broke away from their leashes galloping towards Plaintiff, knocking her off her feet, crashing into her, causing her to land hard on the cement street onto her right thigh and buttocks. Plaintiff explained that the dogs were on top of her licking her and jumping upon her in an excited fashion. Client sustained grave injuries that required and continue to require continuous treatment and complex surgical intervention. Mr. Bernard was able to recover $350,000 in a mediated settlement.
$10 MILLION VERDICT AGAINST CEMEX
July 18, 2014
Cemex misrepresented the facts surrounding a catastrophic injury to Matthew Oemig, then 17, that rendered him paraplegic. Bernard & Bernard, over the course of a protracted seven-week trial, won a $10 million jury verdict.
MANHATTAN BEACH HOME CONTEST
July 18, 2014
A real estate promotion in which thousands of entrants wrote essays about why they wanted to live in Manhattan Beach, with a beachfront cottage as the prize, was ruled fraudulent, and Bernard & Bernard’s and Huskinson & Brown’s class action lawsuit won a $1 billion verdict.
RUNNING A FAIR RACE AT SANTA ANITA
July 18, 2014
Bernard & Bernard filed a class action lawsuit against Santa Anita Racetrack and the owner and trainer of Sweet Catomine for failing to provide information on the horse’s condition prior to the running of the Santa Anita Derby. The case has had an enormous impact on the reporting of a horse’s condition prior to a race and on doping in the sport. MORE
A PICASSO LOOTED BY NAZIS
July 18, 2014
When a $10 million Picasso was discovered on the market, Stephen Bernard’s client, one of the foremost art dealers in the world, was unwittingly caught in the middle. After an extensive legal battle, a settlement was reached with the rightful owner and Mr. Bernard’s client was absolved of any and all wrongdoing. MORE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
July 18, 2014
The county agreed to a $172-million settlement to end a class-action lawsuit involving an illegal utility tax paid for years by nearly 400,000 residents and businesses in unincorporated areas.
BAMBI & DR. PHIL
July 18, 2014
Stephen Bernard often represents high profile personalities, like Playboy bunny, ex-cop and convicted killer Bambi Bembenek, who filed suit against the Dr. Phil Show over an unfortunate accident. MORE
