Confidential
Settlement – $7,000,000Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Scott A. Freedman
(Southern California Gas Co)
Experts
Plaintiff
Gordon Damant
(technical)
Billy Sanders
(technical)
Ira Frank
(medical)
Martin J. Siegel
(technical)
Defendant
Lester M. Zackler M.D.
(medical)
Robert A. Kadlec
(technical)
Charles W. Spenler
(medical)
William C. Crookshanks
(technical)
Howard Needles
(technical)
Facts
In May of 1992, Plaintiff, an immigrant from Bangladesh, rented an apartment from Defendant premises owner. He allegedly had difficulty, from the beginning of his tenancy, with lighting the 4-burner stove. He complained to management who sent him various handymen to repair; but then the stove would stop functioning again after 10 or 12 days. This occurred approximately 6 times. Management requested that he put these complaints in writing; he allegedly made 4 complaints (disputed) concerning the stove and other deficiencies in the apartment. Allegedly all the apartments in this 57-unit building owned by Defendant had identical stoves which were 30-plus years old and at least 20 percent were defective, allegedly due to corrosion and age. Management told Plaintiff (and allegedly others) to light the burners with a match or lighter, if they had difficulty. On November 9, 1992, when Plaintiff was a 33-year-old parking-lot cashier, he was attempting to light the stove with a piece of paper by transferring the flame from one defective burner to another, when a fire/explosion occurred which engulfed him, setting his clothes on fire. He was wearing a polo shirt purchased from Defendant retailer, a traditional wrap-around skirt known as a "longhi," and no underwear. Defendants consisted of the owners of the apartment complex; the prior premises-management company; and the management company at the time of the incident (premises Defendants). In addition, Plaintiff sued the polo shirt retailer and manufacturer (clothing Defendants).
Settlement Discussions
Offers and/or demands, exchanged prior to this result, were not disclosed.
Specials in Evidence
$900,000 minimum wage $100,000
Injuries
Second and third degree burns over approximately 60 percent of the body, primarily below the waist and including his genitalia, buttocks, and back requiring 3 months hospitalization, skin graft surgeries, and extensive psychotherapy; residual scarring, impotency, and trauma. There were no burns to his face or neck.
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