Jury Awards Plaintiff Largest Amount of Damages in Napa County History

Sacramento injury attorneys Richard Chan & Parker White convince jury that previous conviction was incorrect and jury awards $4,000,000 to plaintiff.

On 3/9/2010 Lloyd Godwin, Gregory Decaro and their employer ColloPack Solutions, LLC of Napa were found liable for the death of Jennifer Haden. The jury awarded damages of $4,000,000 to her brother William Haden for her wrongful death. Media originally blasted William McDonough as the driver who caused the accident which occurred on 3/20/07. Napa DA & Napa County Sherriff's Department investigated and prosecuted only McDonough when they were aware other drivers were involved. Plaintiff Lawyer Richard Chan reinvestigated the accident hiring experts and interviewing witnesses exposing incorrect conclusions in the criminal trial of McDonough by the Napa County Sherriff's Department. Chan filed a civil lawsuit on 3/20/09 and exposed the incorrect conclusion by Investigating Officer Chris Carlisle that the accident was caused by McDonough. The IO attributed the skid marks at the scene to the wrong car. It was proven at the civil trial that the IO's were aware of the mistaken conclusions on skid marks. These conclusions were not provided to McDonough or his attorney during the criminal case. McDonough was convicted of manslaughter while unaware the original investigation reports were incorrect. In civil depositions and at the civil trial Carlisle admitted under oath to Chan & White that he was in fact aware that the original conclusions regarding skid marks were incorrect and he did nothing to bring this to the attention of McDonough or his criminal defense attorney. In essence what had originally been represented by the Napa County Sheriff's Department and DA as 'road rage' by McDonough was in fact 'road rage' engaged in by Decaro & Godwin causing MCD to lose control of his vehicle which struck Ms. Haden killing her and her unborn child instantly. After years of litigation and a jury's verdict the three defendants were still unwilling to accept the jury's find of their fault and filed a motion on 3/25/2010 asking the Judge Raymond A. Guadagni to throw out the jury verdict and grant them a new trial as well as in the alternative to disregard the jury's verdict of $4,000,000 and reduce it. Attorneys Chan & White vigorously opposed this motion and Judge Guadagni agreed denying these motions on 4/25/2010. Worse yet, the defendants hired a special appellate lawyer to appeal the verdict & Guadagni's decisions. Chan & White gearing up for the appellate process were informed recently that the defendants are giving up their appeal and are prepared to pay the jury award presumable under the advice of counsel. Richard Chan is available for comment.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• sacramento personal injury
• sacramento injury lawyer
• sacramento injury attorney