Personal Injury News: Pick Of Last Month: May-2025
$6.1M Settlement Reached in Youngstown Blast Lawsuit
The family of a 27-year-old man from Penn Hills, who tragically died in an explosion in Youngstown, Ohio, has secured a settlement exceeding $6.1 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.
The explosion occurred last year when an office building in downtown Youngstown was rocked by a blast caused by a severed natural gas line. The incident also left nine others injured.
Cause of Explosion and Legal Action
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a four-member scrap removal crew was working in the basement of the Realty Building at the time. Unaware that the gas lines were still active, a crew member cut into a pipe he had been told was out of service. The victim’s family subsequently filed a lawsuit against both the building owner and the gas company.
NTSB Findings
NTSB investigators later determined that although the gas line was labeled inactive, it had been pressurized with natural gas, ultimately leading to the fatal explosion.
NH Settles for $2.25M with the Murdered Kid's Mother
The state of New Hampshire has agreed to a $2.25 million settlement with the mother of a 5-year-old girl who was murdered by her father over five years ago.
The child’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in September 2024 against both the state and the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), claiming negligence.
Tragic Timeline of Events
The girl was believed to have been killed in December 2019, although her remains have never been recovered. The Manchester Police Department began investigating her disappearance on December 31, 2021—two years after she went missing. She was declared legally dead in March 2024. Her father was convicted of her murder in February 2024.
Allegations Against DCYF
The mother’s lawsuit alleged that DCYF failed to act on multiple reports of abuse prior to the child’s death. Although the state and DCYF did not admit liability as part of the settlement, the agreement ends the legal proceedings initiated by the mother.
Settlement Distribution
According to WMUR, half of the $2.25 million settlement will be awarded to the child’s mother. The remaining 50% will be placed into third-party trusts for the benefit of the child’s four siblings.
Boeing, DOJ Settle to Avoid 737 Max Crash Prosecution
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a new agreement with Boeing that would allow the aerospace giant to avoid criminal prosecution related to two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft.
The crashes, which occurred in 2018 and 2019, resulted in the deaths of 346 people and led to global scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices.
Non-Prosecution Agreement Averts Trial
Under the terms of the proposed non-prosecution agreement, Boeing would sidestep a criminal trial, sparing the company from being officially labeled a felon. This development comes despite calls from the families of crash victims, who have long pushed for Boeing to be held criminally accountable. The DOJ, however, emphasized that the agreement ensures significant accountability and benefits without the unpredictability of a trial.
DOJ’s Rationale and Timeline
The Justice Department stated in a court filing that the agreement is a “fair and just resolution that serves the public interest.” The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of next week, with the DOJ planning to file a motion to dismiss the case once the agreement is complete.
Financial Commitments and Compliance Investments
As part of the agreement, Boeing will be required to pay or invest more than $1.1 billion. This includes a criminal fine of $487.2 million, though $243.6 million previously paid under a 2021 deal will be credited toward that amount. Additionally, the agreement outlines the creation of a $444.5 million fund for crash victims and earmarks another $445 million to enhance compliance, safety, and quality measures within the company.
Boeing Remains Silent Amid Criticism
Boeing declined to comment on the proposed agreement. The company has spent years attempting to move past the fallout from the crashes of its best-selling 737 Max aircraft. The tragedies involved a Lion Air flight in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight less than five months later, prompting a nearly two-year global grounding of the Max fleet.
Victims’ Families Condemn the Deal
While the DOJ said that over 110 victims’ relatives support or generally accept the decision to avoid trial, other families remain staunchly opposed. Their legal representatives sharply criticized the agreement, labeling it an unprecedented and unjust resolution for what they describe as the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history. “My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it,” said the victims’ lawyer in response to the court filing.
Previous 2021 Settlement Under Scrutiny
This isn’t the first time Boeing has entered into a major settlement over the crashes. In January 2021, during the final days of the Trump administration, Boeing reached a $2.51 billion settlement that included a $243.6 million criminal penalty, $500 million for the families of crash victims, and $1.77 billion to compensate airline customers. That agreement also protected Boeing from prosecution for three years—an arrangement the DOJ now says Boeing violated.
Breach of 2021 Agreement Following Alaska Airlines Incident
Just two days before the 2021 deferred prosecution agreement was set to expire, a major incident occurred: a door panel on a new 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines detached mid-flight. Investigations revealed the aircraft had left the factory without essential bolts. This incident renewed scrutiny of Boeing’s quality control and compliance systems.
DOJ Accuses Boeing of Violating Settlement Terms
In the wake of the Alaska Airlines incident, prosecutors concluded that Boeing failed to uphold the terms of the 2021 deal. Specifically, the company was accused of not implementing an effective compliance and ethics program to detect violations of U.S. fraud laws, a key requirement of the deferred prosecution agreement.
Attempted Plea Deal Rejected in 2024
Last year, under the Biden administration, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge in a new settlement. However, a federal judge ultimately rejected the plea deal over concerns about how a corporate monitor would be selected, particularly in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria. The plea would have carried a fine of up to $487.2 million, with the DOJ recommending Boeing be credited for half the amount already paid under the previous agreement.
Allegations of Corporate Deception
The DOJ originally charged Boeing with conspiracy to defraud the government, accusing employees of misleading the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the flight-control system known as MCAS, which was later implicated in both crashes. In the 2021 agreement, the DOJ noted that Boeing employees “chose the path of profit over candor” by deliberately concealing crucial information from regulators.
Evidence of Internal Misconduct
Documents obtained during the investigation showed troubling internal communications. In one exchange, Boeing’s former chief technical pilot—who was later acquitted of fraud—advised the FAA to exclude MCAS from flight manuals. In another email, he boasted about “jedi-mind tricking” regulators to approve Boeing’s pilot training materials.
Continued Backlash from Families and Advocates
The families of crash victims and their attorneys have continued to express outrage over what they perceive as lenient treatment of Boeing. They argue that the company should face full prosecution and that its executives must be held personally accountable. The fact that Boeing is simultaneously winning major government contracts, including for military jets and new presidential aircraft, has further fueled their anger.
A Precedent for Corporate Accountability?
The new agreement reignites the broader debate over corporate accountability in the U.S., especially in cases involving loss of life. Critics argue that allowing Boeing to avoid prosecution sends a dangerous message to other large corporations, effectively suggesting that financial settlements can substitute for genuine legal consequences.
New Orleans Archdiocese to Pay $180M in Abuse Settlement
The Archdiocese of New Orleans has agreed to pay $179.2 million to settle claims from hundreds of survivors of clergy sexual abuse, marking one of the latest major settlements involving the Catholic Church in the United States.
According to a statement from the creditors committee that negotiated the agreement, the funds will be placed into a trust for survivors. Distribution will begin once the Archdiocese exits bankruptcy proceedings.
Survivors and Attorneys Express Strong Opposition
Despite the announcement, many survivors have voiced strong objections. Attorneys representing numerous abuse victims condemned the settlement, calling it a “secret backroom deal” made without the support of the majority of survivors. “This proposal will undoubtedly be voted down,” they said, arguing that it perpetuates the harm survivors have already endured at the hands of the Archdiocese.
Survivor Calls Deal "An Insult"
One survivor, who says he was abused as an eighth grader in the 1960s, described the agreement as “an insult and a slap to the face.” He accused the Archdiocese and Archbishop Gregory Aymond of using the settlement to block victims from pursuing justice in state court, calling it an attempt to avoid full accountability.
Agreement Includes Prevention Measures
In addition to financial compensation, the deal includes provisions described as “unprecedented” for addressing future abuse. These measures include a survivors’ bill of rights and reforms to the Archdiocese’s process for handling abuse claims. The Archdiocese also stated that these changes are aimed at improving transparency and providing ongoing support to survivors.
Archbishop Praises Path Toward Healing
Archbishop Aymond expressed gratitude for those who helped facilitate the agreement. “I am grateful to God for all who have worked to reach this agreement and that we may look to the future towards a path to healing for survivors and for our local church,” he said in a public statement.
Case Involves Over 500 Abuse Survivors
The settlement seeks to resolve a lawsuit filed in 2020 involving over 500 individuals who allege abuse by clergy members. Church documents revealed during the case show decades of abuse and a pattern of relocating accused priests without notifying law enforcement. In 2018, the Archdiocese publicly identified over 50 clergy members credibly accused of abuse.
California Utility to Pay $82M Over 2020 Wildfire Lawsuit
Southern California Edison (SCE) has agreed to pay $82.5 million to the federal government in connection with the 2020 Bobcat Fire, which burned through vast stretches of forest northeast of Los Angeles and reached the Mojave Desert, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Settlement for Firefighting and Environmental Damage
The payment is intended to compensate taxpayers for the significant costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and the extensive environmental damage it caused, including harm to federal lands. The settlement was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and resolves a 2023 lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service against SCE and its contractor, Utility Tree Service.
No Admission of Fault by Utility
Under the terms of the agreement, SCE will pay the settlement within 60 days from the effective date, May 14, without admitting any fault or wrongdoing. A spokesperson for the utility stated, “Our hearts are with the people who were affected by the Bobcat Fire. We are pleased to have resolved this matter and will continue to advance wildfire mitigation measures.”
Fire Allegedly Caused by Neglected Vegetation Management
The government’s lawsuit alleged that the fire ignited after trees—allegedly not properly managed by the utility and its contractor—came into contact with power lines. The blaze scorched approximately 178 square miles (461 square kilometers), forcing long-term closures of campgrounds and over 100 miles of trails in the Angeles National Forest. It also damaged habitats critical to endangered and threatened species, including the mountain yellow-legged frog and various native fish and birds.
Restoration Efforts Planned
“These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests’ resilience to future wildfires,” said a Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Angeles National Forest.
Ongoing Investigations and Prior Settlements
In 2023, SCE paid $80 million to settle separate claims from a 2017 wildfire that destroyed over a thousand structures. Authorities are also investigating the cause of the recent Eaton Fire, which destroyed at least 7,000 homes. Lawsuits claim SCE equipment sparked that blaze as well.
Family of Black man killed by WA deputy settles for $3.5M
Family members of a Black motorist fatally shot by a deputy in southwestern Washington state have reached a $3.5 million settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit.
The payment was agreed upon by the Clark County Council in relation to the 2021 shooting death of a 30-year-old Battle Ground resident.
Details of the Fatal Shooting Incident
The victim died on February 12, 2021, eight days after being shot in the head by a deputy from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop. Deputies had pulled over the victim’s car over what they described as a faulty rear light after receiving reports of suspicious driving in a neighborhood.
Lawsuit and Allegations
In 2022, the victim’s family filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, alleging wrongful death, assault and battery, negligence, and violation of civil rights. The trial was scheduled to begin June 9. The family’s attorneys argued the traffic stop was unlawful, citing a 1999 Washington Supreme Court ruling that prohibits using traffic stops as a pretext for investigating suspected criminal activity.
Circumstances Leading to the Shooting
According to the family’s lawyers, the victim was initially cooperative. The situation escalated after another deputy reported seeing a sharp object inside the vehicle, later identified as a screwdriver. An outside investigation found that during the struggle to remove the victim from the car, one deputy fired two shots when the victim refused to release him as the vehicle lurched forward. One bullet struck the victim, resulting in his death.
Victim’s Background and Community Impact
The victim was on the autism spectrum and prone to withdrawal in stressful situations, according to his lawyers. This shooting was the second involving a Black man killed by deputies in Clark County within four months.
Related Incident and Prior Settlement
On October 29, 2020, a separate shooting occurred during a law enforcement drug sting, where deputies fired at a 21-year-old Black man who ran away carrying a gun. That victim’s family also sued Clark County and later received a $1.25 million settlement. Prosecutors ruled both shootings justified after investigations.
Reactions to the Settlement
The family’s attorneys described the settlement as providing accountability and closure, emphasizing that officers who use unnecessary lethal force must be held responsible. Meanwhile, a county spokesperson stated that Clark County denies liability in the incident. Prosecutors from outside the county reviewed the shooting and found it justified in protecting deputies.
St. Louis to pay $4M to Settle Jail Inhumane Conditions Suit
The city of St. Louis has agreed to a $4 million settlement in a class action lawsuit over inhumane conditions at the now-closed St. Louis Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse.
The lawsuit alleged that inmates were subjected to unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, including rodent feces found in their food, infestations of bugs and snakes, and unbearable overcrowding.
The settlement was announced by ArchCity Defenders, a nonprofit organization representing the plaintiffs. The group has filed a motion in federal court seeking approval to notify thousands of former inmates about their potential eligibility to claim damages under the settlement.
Background on the Workhouse Jail and Affected Inmates
The Workhouse jail was closed in June 2022, and demolition began earlier this year. Approximately 16,000 individuals who were incarcerated at the facility for five or more days between November 2012 and its closure may now be eligible to file claims if the court approves the settlement. The city has denied any wrongdoing or legal liability as part of the agreement signed on April 10.
During a recent news conference, the city’s Mayor, who took office five days after the settlement was reached, declined to comment on the deal, saying she was not in office when the settlement was negotiated.
Plaintiffs Describe Harrowing Jail Conditions
All seven original plaintiffs who brought the suit in 2017 are Black, reflecting the fact that most inmates in the jail were Black, despite the city’s population being just over half Black. Most detainees were held awaiting trial because they could not afford bail, primarily for non-violent offenses.
One plaintiff described the jail as “a horrible place,” stating, “They treat dogs at the shelter better than they treated us.” Though the settlement offers financial compensation, he expressed that no amount of money could return the lost time or heal the trauma caused by being separated from family and confined in such conditions.
Another plaintiff echoed this sentiment during the initial lawsuit announcement, saying that animals were treated better than inmates in the jail.
Overcrowding and Unsafe Living Conditions
A plaintiff jailed for eight months on a probation violation recalled unsanitary conditions, including finding mouse feces in the cake served to inmates, which jail staff merely scraped off. He was housed in a dormitory with 69 other men, sharing just one functioning toilet, sink, and shower.
He also described the intense summer heat inside the jail, which reportedly reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51.67 degrees Celsius). This extreme heat led to inmate protests, prompting city officials to bring in portable air conditioners temporarily.
ArchCity Defenders on the Settlement’s Significance
The executive director of ArchCity Defenders called the Workhouse “an infamous symbol of injustice and inhumane treatment” and said it represented systemic racism and the targeting of poor people within the criminal justice system.
He emphasized the long-term harm caused by the jail, noting, “So many generations were harmed by it.” He praised the current developments, saying the jail’s closure, demolition, defunding, and now the settlement allowing victims to recover damages marked “a huge accomplishment” in addressing past wrongs.
This settlement marks an important step toward justice for thousands who endured decades of neglect and abuse in the St. Louis Workhouse jail.
$14M Settlement Settled in Wrongful Conviction Case
A man who spent over 20 years in prison for a double homicide he did not commit has reached a $14 million settlement in a wrongful conviction lawsuit. The man was originally convicted in 1996 for the double homicide but was exonerated in 2019 after new evidence came to light.
Settlement Highlights Innocence and Resilience
The man’s attorneys described the settlement as a strong acknowledgment of his innocence and praised his resilience through 23 years of wrongful imprisonment. “This $14 million settlement speaks unequivocally to the man's innocence, and to his unwavering perseverance, dignity, and strength in the face of tremendous suffering,” his attorney said in a statement.
Police Department Response and Future Commitment
A spokesperson for the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department confirmed the settlement, stating that the payment will be made over the next four fiscal years. The department emphasized that the settlement does not imply any admission of liability or wrongdoing.
The Board of Police Commissioners said the lawsuit involved former personnel and events from nearly three decades ago. They expressed that the department has learned important lessons from the litigation and is committed to using those insights to improve police services in Kansas City.
Looking Ahead
The statement concluded with appreciation for the man’s “reasoned and sincere efforts” to reach the settlement and extended good wishes to him and his family as they move forward.