Top Plaintiffs' Verdicts by Dollar: Steward et. al., v. Stratus Security Services Inc. et. al.

Antonio Steward, a 17-year old student, was shot a total of nine times by a local Crips gang member while hanging out with friends on the stairs of his Fontana apartment complex in 2006.

Since then, he's had both legs amputated above the knee and 40 percent of his stomach removed.

Before the shooting, a security guard working for Stratus Security Services Inc. approached a large group of men that appeared to be gang members having a party outside one of the apartments, but didn't break up the gathering.

In a trial last spring, the plaintiff's lawyers argued that the guard failed to perform his duties since one of the partygoers ended up shooting Steward.

Gary A. Dordick of the Law Offices of Gary A. Dordick represented Steward. In an email, he described the trial as "the type of battle trial lawyers live for."

The trial itself came nearly seven years after the shooting after an appeals court overturned a successful motion for summary judgment.

A jury awarded Steward $55,151,509 in his negligence claim against the security company, finding Stratus to be 49 percent liable for his injuries. Steward et al., v. Stratus Security Services Inc. et al., SCVSS145226 (San Bernardino Super. Ct., filed Dec. 22, 2006).

The case settled post-verdict for "a fraction" of the jury award, according to Barry A. Bradley, who represented Stratus and co-defendant Saly Antoon. He added that "the defense made six separate motions for mistrial, all of which were going to be a strong basis for appeal." Dordick described the settlement as an "eight-figure amount that represented a fair compromise due to the limited insurance coverage."

These days, Dordick said Steward has bought a house and is "planning on going back to his volunteer work with young people that need help dealing with the emotional effects of traumatic amputations."

- Omar Shamout

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