Case Results
A Passion For Justice
We have recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and across California since our founding in 1995. Fighting against injustice and righting wrongs is what motivates our attorneys. We know that serious injury, harassment, or an act of discrimination can be devastating. They affect victims emotionally, physically, and financially. We are tenacious and relentless advocates in seeking justice for clients. We are fully prepared to take your cases to trial and prevail should the defendant refuse to settle on just terms. We invite you to explore some of our case results:
Our Verdicts & Settlements
Verdict: $61,000,000
Employment Harassment, Discrimination, and Wrongful Termination
This $61 million verdict was the largest verdict ever in U.S. history for individuals subjected to racial and ethnic discrimination and employment harassment in violation of their civil rights. The case involved two Lebanese-Americans who after 9/11 were repeatedly taunted by their manager and coworkers as “terrorists,” “sand niggers,” and other slurs. Demonstrating Chris Dolan‘s passion for justice and commitment to his clients, Dolan took the case after 10 other law firms, the NAACP, and ACLU all had rejected it. For his outstanding success in the case, California Lawyer magazine awarded Dolan its prestigious California Lawyer of the Year Award.
Verdict: $20,000,000
Employment Law: Wrongful Termination Whistleblower Lawsuit
This was a verdict for an employee who was wrongfully terminated after reporting timeshare fraud directed at seniors by her superiors. The lawsuit, Williams v. Wyndham Vacation Ownership, showed the power of the law protecting whistleblowers in California who bring wrongful termination lawsuits.
Verdict: $11,800,000
Personal Injury Law: Motorcycle Collision
Gonzalez v. Smith (San Francisco Superior Court Case No. CGC-20-582006) arose from a motor vehicle versus motorcycle collision caused by Defendant Luke Thomas Smith’s negligence, which permanently injured, disabled, and disfigured Plaintiff Julian Gonzalez. Just after 5:30 p.m. on August 21, 2019, Defendant Smith executed a left turn from McAllister Street onto Larkin Street and crashed into Plaintiff Gonzalez, who was riding his Harley-Davidson Road King straight through the intersection as part of through traffic. Gonzalez and his motorcycle went down and slid across the pavement. When Gonzalez came to rest, his left foot was severed at the ankle, his lower leg bones were crushed, and his foot was mangled; only a small amount of skin kept his foot attached. Gonzalez was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), where trauma surgeons performed a below-knee amputation. After a long-fought battle, including exhausting law and motion practice both before and during trial, Judge Vedica Puri issued her decision awarding Plaintiff Gonzalez $11,789,316.00, a life-changing sum that will allow Gonzalez to obtain the care and treatment he requires to live a more comfortable life, albeit now without his leg.
Verdict: $867,500
Personal Injury Lawsuit: Car Accident
This was a jury verdict on behalf of a woman who had previously been offered only $13,000.
Verdict: $365,000
Personal Injury Lawsuit: Bicycle Accident
Baecht v. Elwir was tried before the San Francisco Superior Court. A bicyclist was injured when a passenger opened a car door directly into his path, causing spleen removal.
Settlement: $293,275
Personal Injury Lawsuit: Bicycle Accident
The Plaintiff was riding her bike home from a dance when she was struck by a motorcyclist fleeing police pursuit. The Plaintiff suffered extreme injuries, including the severing of her leg. She alleged that CHP had not followed their own rules regarding chases and had created a dangerous set of conditions by pursuing a non-violent criminal through city streets at high speeds.
Verdict: $238,000
Personal Injury Lawsuit: Bicycle Accident
Chambers v. Gorden was tried before the San Francisco Superior Court. A bicyclist was traveling on Lincoln Blvd. in the Presidio when a pedestrian stepped out in front of a parked car, causing a fractured jaw and cheek for the bicyclist and fractured cheek of the pedestrian.
Verdict: $103,900
Personal Injury Lawsuit: Bicycle Accident
Cho v. University of California was tried before the Alameda County Superior Court. A bicycle rider was hit on the UC Berkeley Campus by an electric maintenance cart, causing a laceration to the lower leg, scarring, and loss of sensation to the small toe. The initial offer was $10,000, and the amount was reduced by 8 percent for comparative fault.
Verdict: $55,000
Personal Injury Lawsuit: Motorcycle Accident
Kavanagh v. Chan was tried before the San Francisco Superior Court. In a low-speed, rear-end car v. motorcycle case, the Plaintiff stayed on the bike. The Plaintiff had seven acupuncture visits and chronic pain. The offer before trial was $5,000.
