Notable Case Results

I. NOTABLE JURY VERDICTS, JUDGMENTS & APPEALS

Mark Glago has handled over 2,500 cases, and has taken over 180 cases to trial in Louisiana state courts.  A few of the notable trials Mark was involved in are as follows:

$51.4 Million – Schweitzer v. RTA, et al. – jury verdict for minor child who suffered extensive damage to her arm, and had to undergo over 20 surgeries.  This was the largest jury verdict for an individual plaintiff in the history of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans.  Attorney Johnnie Cochran was also a part of Plaintiff’s “trial team.”

$5.0 Million trial court judgment for widow and two children of 38-year-old man who was killed by an intoxicated driver.

$4.1 Million – Joseph vs. Entergy New Orleans, Inc. – secured affirmation of judgment awarding $4.1 million to individual with brain injury and sexual dysfunction.

$3.2 Million – Marion Cooper, et al. v. CNA Insurance Company – trial court judgment for family who suffered injuries in auto accident.

$3.1 Million – Engle v. New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board – trial court judgment for Registered Nurse who suffered a brain injury.

$1.5 Million – trial court judgment for family of hospital patient who died during Hurricane Katrina, liability and causation were both contested.

$1.06 Million – Terrance Tunstall v. Traveler’s Insurance Company – $1,060,000 trial court judgment for individual who suffered neck and back injuries, including two surgeries, in automobile accident.  This judgment was in excess of Traveler’s insurance policy limits.

$500,000 trial court judgment for college professor who was killed by toxic mold exposure at the university. $500,000 was the maximum award allowed by law.  This case was dropped by 2 prior law firms because they felt the case was unwinnable.

II. NOTABLE SETTLEMENTS

$25 Million – Settlement reached on the second day of trial for occupants of Memorial Hospital suing for premises liability.

$12.1 Million – Settlement for occupants of Lindy Boggs Hospital suing for premises liability.

$10.0 Million – Settlements for baby burn victim who underwent multiple surgeries as a result of household fire.

$7.7 Million – Settlement for workers and guests of a New Orleans hotel who suffered injuries and damages as a result of exposure to toxic mold.

$5.9 Million – Settlement for business owner whose complex sustained property damage from Hurricane Ida. Settlement included bad faith penalties and attorneys’ fees.

$3.5 Million – Settlement for commercial driver who rear-ended an 18 wheeler with no lights on.

$3.0 Million – Settlement for a shopping center that sustained property damage from Hurricane Ida. Settlement included bad faith penalties and attorneys fees.

$2.3 Million – Settlement for teenager who went through skylight as a result of premises liability failure.

$2.25 Million – Settlement for Wrongful Death of a 18-wheeler driver involved in an auto accident.

$2.1 Million – Settlement for business which owned an apartment complex which suffered property damage and mold infestation after roof caved in.

$2.0 Million – Settlement for a single mother who was involved in an auto accident and had a cervical fusion.

$2.0 Million – Settlement for occupants of a hotel located in the Central Business District whose occupants suffered injuries from toxic mold.

$2.0 Million – Settlement for a widow whose husband died in an explosion. This was a Products Liability case.

$2.0 Million – Settlement for a nursing assistant involved in auto accident who had to undergo back surgery.

$2.0 Million – Admiralty settlement for Jones Act seaman who suffered a back injury while working as a deckhand aboard a vessel.

$1.9 Million – Settlement for mechanic involved in an auto accident who had a lumbar fusion.

$1.8 Million – Settlement for a heavy machinery worker who had ankle surgery after an auto accident.

$1.54 Million – Received by medical malpractice victim who was made quadriplegic as a result of an ill-performed steroid injection in her neck. After winning the medical review panel and litigating for two years, the case was settled for the $500,000 medical malpractice limit plus past medical expenses. Further, as part of the settlement, the Patient’s Compensation Fund must pay all of her medical bills for the rest of her life.

$1.5 Million – Admiralty settlement for Jones Act seaman who suffered a foot injury while working as a deckhand aboard a vessel.

$1.3 Million – Settlement for Jones Act seaman who suffered a leg and back injury after falling off of a ship.

$1.3 Million – Settlement reached on the third day of trial for a Motel which was damaged during Katrina.  Settlement included bad faith penalties and attorneys fees. The highest offer the insurance company made before trial began was $100,000.

III. HURRICANE PROPERTY DAMAGE TRIALS

$212,500 Judgment – Javier Orellana v. Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. –

In July of 2007, Glago Williams, LLC secured a judgment against Louisiana Citizens Fair Plan (LA Citizens) in Orleans Parish.  The judgment represents months of turmoil for the Plaintiff, but at the end of the trial, the trial court ruled that LA Citizens must pay Mr. Orellana the full amount of damages to his house, which were $87,500.  The Court then ruled that LA Citizens must pay the Plaintiff an additional $125,000 for all that LA Citizens put him through when they arbitrarily decided not to pay his claim.

LA Citizens filed an appeal to the Fourth Circuit, arguing that the Judge was not able to award mental anguish damages under the penalty statute (Art. 22:1220), and that LA Citizens should be immune from penalties.  The Plaintiff argued that LA Citizens was incorrect and that the findings of the trial court should be affirmed. The Court of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed the judgment.

$311,000 Jury Verdict – Stephen and Kelly Panus v. Lexington Insurance Company –

Glago Williams, LLC conducted this jury trial on behalf of Stephen and Kelly Panus for property damages, penalties and attorneys fees when their house was damaged by hurricane.  At the conclusion of the 2 week long trial, the 12 members of the Orleand Parish jury awarded Mr. and Mrs. Panus over $300,000.  The jury awarded the full amount of their property damages, which was $101,000.  The jury then additionally awarded $30,000 in attorneys fees, plus $180,000 for all that Lexington put them through when they arbitrarily decided not to pay Mr. and Mrs. Panus a fair amount for the damages to their house.

$524,000 Jury Verdict – Dr. Joanne Preston d/b/a Chateau du Louisiane Bed & Breakfast v. Lafayette Insurance Company

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, Joanne Preston’s bed and breakfast in the Garden District of New Orleans suffered extensive damage.  After Lafayette Insurance Company failed to pay her the amount she needed to repair her property in order that she may be able to house those left homeless after the storm, Dr. Preston hired Glago Williams, LLC and the Irpino Law Firm.  At the conclusion of the 5 day jury trial, the 12 members of the Orleans Parish Jury awarded Dr. Preston a total of $524,000, which included the full amount necessary to repair her bed and breakfast, plus her loss of income from the business interruption, attorney’s fees and penalties.