Orange County Jury Awards $430,000+ in Damages

Earlier this week an Orange County jury awarded our clients more than $430,000 in damages. Defendants were also ordered to pay our clients’ attorney fees of $93,780 plus expenses! The two year old case involved years of harassment by a neighbor and harm to our clients’ little dog.

Facts were presented to the jury that since September of 2007, one or more of the defendants had tossed trash over their wall into our clients’ backyard. Furthermore, on more than one occasion, one or more of the defendants had vexed or otherwise harassed our clients when they would cross paths in the community. Several of the defendants were found responsible for threatening and assaulting one of our clients.

Although things continued to get worse between these two neighbors, our clients tried to make the best of a bad situation and avoid these neighbors whenever they could. The straw that broke the camel’s back took place when one of the defendants harmed our clients’ dog resulting in it requiring knee surgery. This is a picture of the surgery.

Although there were no eyewitnesses to the incident, our clients’ heard their dog make a loud squeal and observed the dog tumble down their slope head over heels. It is also noted that almost immediately after this happened, one of the defendants was observed walking away from the area with a baseball bat in his hand.

After the trial, we were contacted by several of the jurors. They couldn’t believe how patient our clients had been. They told us several of the jurors wanted to award more damages than what they ultimately decided to do. They also were upset with the defendants’ conduct and were glad they could help make things right.

From a trial lawyers perspective, it’s always a pleasure to represent good people who are not afraid to stand up for the right reasons. We can comfortably say in this Orange County courtroom, justice was served. And one more thing– we’re standing by just in case this family needs our help again!