Archive

who recently obtained a defense verdict in favor of the firm’s client, a time-share resort in San Luis Obispo. Local jurors were not convinced that plaintiff’s slip and fall accident was caused by any negligence of the resort. This victory was highlighted in DRI’s The Voice. Click on the title of this news story, then click here to read it.

Acker & Whipple congratulates Colette Magnetta, featured in the Leader Spotlight of DRI’s The Voice. Click on the title of this news story, then Click here to read the article. Click here for the full newsletter.

The Defense Research Institute is featuring attorneys Jerri Johnson and Laurie Stayton and their prior jury trial win in this week’s The Voice. Click on the title of this news story, then Click Here to read the article. Click here for the full newsletter.

Defense Research Institute (DRI) has appointed Stephen Acker as Vice Chair of its Law Practice Management Committee, effective October 21, 2013. The latest issue of DRI’s It’s Your Business features an article by Stephen Acker about the “business” of law practice. Click on the title of this news story; then Click here to read to the article. Click here for the full newsletter.

Colette Magnetta moved on behalf of an event promoter defendant. Plaintiff claimed insufficient crowd control at a concert-like event allowed an unexpected bump which caused him to fall on stairs and incur a brain injury. Defendant asserted that it did not owe a duty to plaintiff for the unforeseeable touching and causation was speculative. The Court granted summary judgment.

Stephen Acker and Kelley Harman obtained summary judgment in behalf of a candle manufacturer defendant. The mother of two young boys lit a candle in their room and fell asleep. Soon after, LA Fire Department responded to a fire at the home in which the boys had both perished. LAFD recovered no physical evidence of a candle from the scene. The deceased boys’ parents sued the candle manufacturer and alleged, through their expert, the candle cracked and/or the glass casing was designed insufficiently to resist high temperatures. Plaintiffs’ expert provided no factual or evidentiary basis for his opinions, and all of defendant’s objections in this regard were sustained. With no evidence of a design defect, the Court granted summary judgment.

The firm’s managing attorney Jerri Johnson has been accepted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. ABOTA prides itself on its exclusive membership, by invitation only, to trial lawyers “of high personal character and honorable reputation” who has also met qualifications of significant trial experience.