DeCaro, Doran, Siciliano, Gallagher & DeBlasis Success in the Courtroom

July 29, 2022 • Source: DeCaro, Doran, Siciliano, Gallagher & DeBlasis

With the courts in the mid-Atlantic region rapidly reopening post-pandemic in 2022, the attorneys of DeCaro Doran have achieved a series of favorable results for their clients in litigation.

Chris Dunn secured a defense verdict for a major national retailer after a 5-day jury trial in Anne Arundel County, Maryland Circuit Court.  As a result of a parking lot incident, the Plaintiff was rendered a permanent quadriplegic confined to a nursing home for the remainder of her life.  The Plaintiff boarded almost $7 million in medical expenses in addition to pain and suffering.  Chris obtained a unanimous verdict for the Defendant.

Tom Doran and Anne Marie McGinley also obtained a defense verdict in medical malpractice trial against a general surgeon in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  Plaintiff claimed injury to her ureter during right hemicolectomy surgery for removal of colon cancer mass, which resulted in Plaintiff’s loss of kidney.  The allegation was that the surgery should not have been anywhere near the location of the distal ureter which was missing a 3 cm length when discovered after the patient developed hydronephrosis 4-5 weeks post-operatively.  Plaintiff sought $3 million in damages, but the jury returned a unanimous defense verdict.

Mark Kohl obtained two directed verdicts in defense of motor vehicle suits in Fairfax County, Virginia.  In both 2022 cases, Mark successfully established that the Plaintiffs’ evidence was insufficient to allow the case to go to the jury, resulting in judgment for the Defendants. 

Steve Bergeron secured summary judgment in favor of his carrier in a declaratory judgment coverage lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.  The Claimants contended that the commercial vehicle policy insured a borrowed vehicle, but the court ruled that a borrowed vehicle was only insured if it was listed as a “covered auto” in the policy, which it was not.  Therefore, our client had no duty to defend and no duty to indemnify.

Nancy Goodiel received an excellent result in a stipulated liability, damages only jury trial in Alexandria, Virginia Circuit Court.  Plaintiff sustained permanent injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident and presented evidence to support his claim for damages well in excess of $300,000.  Nancy convinced the jury to limit its award to $150,000. 

Steve Parrott and Chris Gowen received a dismissal of their client, a national retailer, on the eve of trial in Baltimore City, Maryland.  The retail store along with third party security company were sued in Baltimore City for alleged mental anguish and emotional distress because a patron was stopped by a third-party male, with no affiliation to the store or the security company, who pretended to be store security by requesting the patron allow him to do a pat down of her. The patron agreed, and a nine second pat down occurred after which the 3rd party male left the store never to be seen or heard from again. On the eve of trial the Plaintiffs dropped their demand by 70% and reached a settlement with the Co-Defendant security company.  Our client paid nothing and was dismissed with prejudice.

Lauren Rutkowski has had defense verdicts in four heavily contested cases this year in Prince George’s County, Howard County, and Baltimore City Maryland courts.  Two were traffic suits in which Lauren prevailed on contributory negligence and the weight of the evidence. The third was a premises case in which Lauren discredited Plaintiff’s medical causation expert to the point of defeating the entire claim.  Lastly, she succeeded in a breach of contract case by establishing that the Plaintiff was not credible on his claims.

Rebecca Schlisler-Adams secured three defense verdicts in three separate non-jury trials in Montgomery County, Baltimore County, and Frederick County, Maryland District Courts.   The first two cases involved property damage claims in which settlement offers were made and rejected.  The third case was a contested motor vehicle accident suit alleging injuries from a significant automobile collision.  In all three cases, Rebecca convinced the trial judge that her client was not negligent.