Personal Injury News: Pick Of Last Month: September-2025
Santa Barbara Schools Settle $7.5M ’70s Abuse Case
On the eve of what was expected to be a lengthy and emotionally taxing trial, Montecito Union School District in Santa Barbara County reached a $7.5 million settlement with two brothers, now aged 65 and 68, who alleged they were sexually abused by a long-deceased principal in the 1970s.
The brothers had originally sought $35 million for the harm they claimed to have suffered, according to an attorney representing the younger sibling.
Financial Impact on the District
The $7.5 million settlement represents roughly 40% of the district’s projected 2025–26 budget of 350 students. While the district has not released the full terms or payment schedule, Superintendent and board members acknowledged the settlement would impact finances. The board announced the agreement over the weekend, signaling an attempt to close the matter without prolonged litigation.
Legal Context: AB 218
The lawsuit was filed under California’s Assembly Bill 218, enacted in 2019, which removed the statute of limitations for claims against public agencies for sexual abuse of children in their care. AB 218 allows survivors of abuse to seek legal recourse decades after incidents occurred.
Rising Costs Across California
Experts estimate that settlements and jury awards under AB 218 could cost California school districts up to $3 billion, or potentially much more. Los Angeles County alone has agreed to pay $4 billion in abuse-related claims, with additional cases still pending, many involving former foster children. Small districts like Montecito are particularly vulnerable, as multimillion-dollar payouts could strain budgets or push them toward insolvency. Meanwhile, school insurance premiums have skyrocketed, more than doubling over the past five years.
Broader Statewide Implications
The Montecito case is not unique. The San Francisco Unified School District is facing ongoing litigation involving allegations of abuse from the mid-1960s. The California School Boards Association has taken note of such cases, providing Montecito Union a $50,000 grant to help with legal costs. A spokesman for the association noted that the district’s superintendent has advocated for reforms to AB 218, citing the law’s unintended consequences on current and future students’ education.
Legislative Efforts
The settlement coincided with the expiration of Senate Bill 577, which would have reinstated a statute of limitations for cases like these. The bill was not voted on during the final days of the legislative session, but the sponsor has indicated plans to reintroduce it next year.
Court Proceedings and Background
The case was scheduled for a 17-day trial in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. During a brief hearing, the judge described the matter as “a case of real consequence.” Lawyers for the district did not attend. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged that Montecito Union’s former superintendent and principal sexually abused the brothers, including acts of rape. The principal, who passed away in 2013 at age 89, never faced criminal charges.
Additional Settlements
A third plaintiff, who also alleged abuse by the same superintendent, previously reached a separate settlement with the district for $1 million. Court filings indicate that his claims covered a wide range of abusive conduct, including rape.
Connecticut Settles $2M Suit Over Nurse’s Killing
Connecticut officials have agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit over the 2023 killing of a visiting nurse by a convicted sex offender at a state-run halfway house.
The case reignited national calls for stronger protections for home health care workers, who often face significant risks while working alone. A state judge in Hartford approved the agreement, which resolves the portion of the lawsuit against state agencies, though talks with other defendants are still ongoing.
Tragic Death of Veteran Nurse
The victim, a 63-year-old mother of six and a nurse with 36 years of experience, was killed while on a routine visit to a Willimantic halfway house on October 28, 2023. She had gone there to administer medication to a patient—an individual on probation after serving time for a violent 2006 assault involving stabbing and sexual assault. Later that day, police discovered her body in the basement of the home. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be compression of the neck and blunt force injuries. The perpetrator pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced in September to 50 years in prison.
Claims of State Negligence
The nurse’s husband filed the lawsuit alleging that Connecticut officials failed to properly supervise the offender during his probation period and neglected to protect the public from a known violent criminal. The complaint accused the Department of Correction and the state’s Judicial Branch of allowing him to remain free despite violations of probation and without sufficient mental health or substance abuse treatment. It also claimed that the offender was permitted to interact with visiting nurses despite his violent history.
According to the family’s attorney, the settlement represents an acknowledgment of the state’s involvement in the events that led to the nurse’s death. “The family hopes this settlement demonstrates that the state is taking responsibility for its role in this horrific crime,” the attorney said. As part of the agreement, family members will meet with state agency representatives to discuss preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
State Denies Wrongdoing
The Connecticut attorney general’s office, which represented the state, declined to comment beyond the court filing. The settlement document specifies that the agreement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by the state. However, it allows the family to receive compensation while officials explore policy and procedural improvements in offender supervision.
Lawsuit Against the Nurse’s Employer Continues
The victim’s husband also brought claims against her employer, Dallas-based Elara Caring, and its affiliates. The lawsuit alleges that the company ignored repeated safety concerns raised by employees about visiting high-risk patients in the community. Elara Caring has denied those claims, calling them “unwarranted,” and asserted that state authorities—not the company—were responsible for assessing and monitoring the offender’s risk level. The company declined further comment, referring to earlier statements.
Lawmakers Respond with Worker Safety Reforms
In response to the tragedy, Connecticut legislators passed a law in 2024 to strengthen workplace protections for home health care professionals. The new legislation provides funding for employers to equip staff with emergency alert buttons, tracking devices, buddy escort programs, and safety training. The nurse’s death also drew widespread national attention, prompting health care organizations and labor unions to call for similar reforms across the country.
Growing Violence Against Health Care Workers
Workplace violence in health care settings remains a growing concern. A 2023 national survey by National Nurses United found that over 80% of nurses reported experiencing at least one form of workplace violence that year, with nearly half saying such incidents had increased compared to 2022. The Connecticut case has since become a rallying point for advocates seeking to better protect those who provide critical care services in people’s homes and communities.
California Man Wins $25M for Wrongful Conviction
A 72-year-old California man who spent 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit has been awarded $25 million, in what his lawyers say is the largest wrongful conviction settlement in the state’s history.
The agreement was reached in August, according to court documents made public this week, bringing closure to a decades-long legal battle that began with his wrongful arrest in 1983.
Conviction Based on False Evidence
The man had been convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the 1983 sexual assault and murder of a woman who was killed by a single gunshot to the head. His lawsuit accused two Inglewood Police Department officers and a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s investigator of framing him by fabricating and withholding evidence. “No amount of money could ever restore the 38 years of my life that were stolen from me,” he said in a statement. “But this settlement marks the end of a long, painful road, and I look forward to moving forward.” Attorneys for the defendants and the City of Inglewood declined to comment, and further details of the settlement remain confidential.
DNA Testing Proves Innocence
For years, the man maintained his innocence and sought DNA testing on evidence collected during the original autopsy and sexual assault examination. Although his requests were denied in 2000, he renewed his claim through the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit in 2021. Subsequent testing revealed that the semen collected from the victim did not match his DNA. Based on these findings, prosecutors joined his defense attorneys in requesting that the conviction be vacated. In 2022, at age 69, he was finally exonerated and released.
Real Killer Identified Decades Later
The DNA evidence was entered into a state database and matched to another man who had been convicted of a separate armed kidnapping and sexual assault that bore striking similarities to the 1983 murder. That suspect had been arrested less than three weeks after the killing in connection with an unrelated car theft. When police arrested him, they found jewelry and a coin purse matching the murdered woman’s belongings. Despite this, authorities at the time failed to investigate him for the murder. He later died in prison in 2020 while serving a sentence for another crime.
Official Declaration of Innocence
In 2023, a California judge ruled the wrongfully imprisoned man was “factually innocent,” meaning the evidence conclusively proved he did not commit the murder. The ruling formally cleared his name and allowed him to pursue compensation for the decades he lost. Today, he lives in Southern California and remains active in his church community.
Attorneys Call for Accountability
His legal team said the settlement sends a strong message about police misconduct. “Departments across California and the nation should take notice that there is a steep price to pay for allowing such egregious misconduct,” one attorney said. The case stands as a stark reminder of the devastating human toll of wrongful convictions and the importance of integrity in law enforcement investigations.
NC Judge Awards $50M in Helicopter Wrongful Death Case
A North Carolina judge has ordered that $50 million be paid to the family of a Charlotte-based television meteorologist who died in a helicopter crash three years ago. The ruling found the companies that owned and operated the aircraft liable in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s widow.
Court Ruling and Insurer Obligations
Following an evidentiary hearing earlier this week, a state Superior Court judge directed the insurers for Total Traffic & Weather Network, iHeartCommunications, and iHeartMedia to make the payment within the next two months. The court concluded that the companies were responsible for the fatal crash and must compensate the victim’s family accordingly.
The 2022 Helicopter Crash
The tragedy occurred in November 2022, when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed along a Charlotte-area interstate. The crash claimed the lives of the WBTV meteorologist and a pilot. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the purpose of the flight was to provide video training for the meteorologist over a simulated news scene.
Lawsuit and Defendants
The victim’s widow filed the wrongful death lawsuit in March 2023, naming the companies that owned and operated the helicopter and a maintenance facility as defendants. The maintenance facility was later dismissed from the case. The lawsuit alleged negligence in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft, leading to the death of her 41-year-old husband, who left behind four children.
NTSB Findings and Expert Testimony
An NTSB report released last year concluded that the probable cause of the crash was inadequate inspections, which led to a loosening of hardware and a loss of control. Investigators discovered that a key component on the main rotor was disconnected and missing its connecting hardware.
Plaintiffs’ experts supported and expanded upon the NTSB’s conclusions, asserting that the crash resulted from operational and maintenance failures committed by the defendants.
Judgment and Settlement Structure
The total judgment entered was $126.3 million, which included a $105 million valuation jointly agreed upon by attorneys from both sides and deemed fair by the jury. However, by prior agreement, the defendants’ primary insurers will pay $50 million of that amount.
The victim’s widow may now pursue the remaining balance from the companies’ excess or umbrella insurance carriers, who have reportedly declined further coverage for the wrongful death claims.
Company Response
Total Traffic & Weather Network and iHeartCommunications are subsidiaries of iHeartMedia, which declined to comment on the ruling through a spokesperson.
Remembering the Victim
The meteorologist, a North Carolina native, had previously worked in Raleigh, Texas, and Virginia before returning to Charlotte, where he grew up. A licensed pilot for over 20 years, he worked for Total Traffic & Weather Network. Police officials praised him for steering the helicopter away from the interstate during the crash, preventing further casualties.
Family and Legal Reactions
In a statement, the victim’s wife expressed that while the settlement cannot bring her husband back, it represents a meaningful acknowledgment of the profound impact of his loss.
Her attorney added that the family hoped the lawsuit would drive improvements in helicopter operations and maintenance within the broadcasting and weather industry. “We believe the industry got the message,” he said, emphasizing that safety reforms are already being implemented as a result of the case.
LA to Pay $18M to Brothers Hurt in LAPD Crash
The Los Angeles City Council has approved an $18 million settlement for two brothers who were severely injured when their vehicle was struck by a speeding LAPD patrol car in June 2024.
High-Speed Collision Caught on Camera
Dashcam footage from the officer’s vehicle showed him driving 80 mph in a 40 mph zone moments before the crash. The collision occurred on June 4, 2024, trapping the brothers inside their car and leaving both with life-threatening injuries.
Ongoing Recovery and Lasting Impact
The brothers spent months in the hospital recovering from their injuries and continue to face medical challenges. Their attorney said they “still have a long way to go” and remain under doctors’ care. “They still have surgeries ahead of them,” he said, noting that the incident has drastically affected their quality of life.
Officer Found at Fault but Denied Responsibility
An LAPD investigation concluded that the officer’s excessive speed caused the crash. However, during a deposition, the officer refused to admit he was speeding or responsible. Assigned to a street racing task force in the Valley Traffic Division, he reportedly did not have his lights or sirens on at the time.
Attorneys said the officer invoked his Fifth Amendment right 60 times when questioned about the collision.
Settlement Reached Mid-Trial
The brothers’ attorneys proceeded to trial after the city initially declined to settle. Midway through the proceedings, city attorneys agreed to the $18 million payout. The City Council voted 10-3 in favor of the settlement during a closed session.
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the resolution.
BART to Pay $6.75M to Woman Shot by Officer
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) agency has agreed to pay $6.75 million to a woman who was shot by a BART police officer in 2024 at the Union City station, settling her claims of excessive force and false reporting.
The mediated pre-litigation settlement, finalized on June 19, 2025, also includes a joint statement acknowledging inaccuracies in the original police account of the incident.
The Shooting Incident at Union City Station
The shooting occurred on November 18, 2024, around 9:30 p.m. in the Union City BART station parking lot. Two BART police officers were responding to reports of a vehicle performing “donuts” in the area and approached a 33-year-old woman sitting in her car.
After a brief investigation, the officers determined the woman was not driving recklessly, noting that her tires were cold. However, body camera footage later showed that officers continued questioning her when they discovered that her vehicle registration appeared expired. As the exchange became tense, the woman appeared increasingly agitated and fearful.
Escalation and Gunfire
Video evidence revealed that at one point, the woman snatched her driver’s license from an officer’s hand. The officers then tried to forcibly remove her from the vehicle, as she repeatedly yelled, “Stop! You’re scaring me!” Moments later, she drove away from the officers.
One of the officers opened fire at the moving vehicle, striking the woman in the back. Her attorney said the bullet barely missed her heart, leaving her with severe physical and emotional trauma. She was hospitalized and later revealed to have lost full mobility in her left arm.
Initial Police Report Found to Be False
In the hours following the shooting, the BART Police Department released a report claiming the woman had assaulted officers with her vehicle, prompting the use of deadly force. BART’s Police Chief also announced that she would face multiple charges, including assault, evading arrest, and resisting officers, and cited two outstanding warrants.
However, once the body-worn camera footage was made public, it became clear that the official police report was not accurate. The video showed that no officer was dragged or trapped when the woman drove away and that no one was in immediate danger. As a result, no criminal charges were ever filed against the woman.
BART’s Admission and Disciplinary Action
As part of the settlement, BART issued a joint statement with the woman’s legal team acknowledging the false narrative. “When the woman drove away, no officer was being dragged or endangered,” the statement read. BART further confirmed that after an internal review, the agency issued a notice of intent to terminate the officer who fired the shot.
Family’s Statement and Emotional Toll
In a written statement, the woman’s family said the shooting “nearly killed” their daughter and left her with permanent, life-changing injuries. They also condemned the damage caused by the false police narrative, which had circulated widely in the media. “It continues to live online, hurting her reputation and our family deeply,” they said.
The woman’s attorney emphasized that she came “within inches of death” and continues to face long-term health challenges. He added that the family valued the agency’s acceptance of accountability and preferred to resolve the matter without filing a lawsuit, prioritizing closure over prolonged litigation.
BART’s Response and Commitment to Public Trust
In a prepared statement, a BART spokesperson said the agency’s top priority remains maintaining public trust. The officer involved was immediately placed on leave pending an independent investigation. “We engaged with the woman’s attorneys early to seek a resolution that avoided years of litigation,” the spokesperson said.
“Reaching this settlement swiftly serves the best interests of the woman, her family, our riders, and the wider community,” the statement concluded.
Nevada to Pay $4.6M in Prison Death Settlement
The state of Nevada has agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit that accused prison guards of brutally beating an inmate and leaving him to die at High Desert State Prison near Las Vegas in 2023, according to the family’s attorney.
Disputed Cause of Death
While the medical examiner ruled the 44-year-old man’s death as “natural” due to heart problems, the autopsy report revealed multiple injuries, including head trauma and bruising on his torso, neck, and limbs. These findings raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Allegations of Repeated Beatings
According to the lawsuit, the inmate was beaten twice shortly after being transferred from another facility. The first altercation allegedly stemmed from a dispute over personal belongings, the family’s attorney said. When he died, the man’s face was swollen and covered in blood, the suit and autopsy both stated.
State Settlement and Ongoing Case
The attorney said the settlement was reached before trial, noting that the man’s family was satisfied the litigation had brought crucial details to light. However, Clark County remains a defendant in the ongoing case. “My ego doesn’t feel like it’s a big enough number,” the attorney remarked about the settlement amount.
Prison’s Account of the Incident
Prison officials claimed the inmate had ignored commands and acted aggressively, prompting officers to use batons and physical restraint. The man, who had served more than 20 years of a life sentence with parole eligibility for a 1997 homicide, died in custody soon after the confrontation.
$18M Settlement in IHS Doctor Abuse Case
The federal government has finalized an $18 million settlement with 12 victims who were sexually abused by a former Indian Health Service (IHS) doctor who worked in Montana and South Dakota.
The agreement marks another chapter in a decades-long scandal that exposed deep failures within the federal agency responsible for providing health care to Native American communities.
Background on the Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is tasked with delivering medical care to members of federally recognized tribes. Despite its mission, the IHS has been chronically underfunded and has faced longstanding criticism over the quality of care and internal oversight within its facilities.
Years of Abuse Across Two Reservations
The doctor at the center of the case served as a physician on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana from 1992 to 1995, and later at an IHS facility on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota from 1995 until 2016. Over this period, he abused numerous young Native American boys under his care.
In 2018, he was convicted of abuse in Montana, and the following year, he was convicted again in South Dakota for similar crimes. He is now serving multiple life sentences in federal prison for his offenses.
Leadership Failures and Ignored Warnings
A 161-page independent report, commissioned by IHS in 2020, detailed how the doctor’s misconduct persisted for decades despite repeated warnings. According to the report, IHS leadership was aware of his suspicious behavior but chose not to intervene.
“As would happen throughout his career, the doctor’s accusers were targeted by management and his position protected,” the report stated. Even after suspicions of pedophilia surfaced on the Blackfeet Reservation, the doctor was transferred to Pine Ridge, where he continued working for more than 20 years.
The report concluded that leadership failures were driven by a desire to avoid controversy: “Leadership wanted the warnings about the doctor to be untrue because, if they were true, they would have to take steps that would be awkward, arduous, inconvenient, messy, and embarrassing.”
Legal Settlements and Federal Accountability
The recent $18 million agreement follows several previous lawsuits filed against the federal government. The victims’ attorney said that, in total, about $32.5 million has now been recovered for 20 individuals who suffered abuse at the hands of the same doctor.
“These are some of the most egregious violations of trust we’ve ever handled,” the attorney said, emphasizing that his firm specializes in sexual abuse cases. “We’re talking about some of the most vulnerable people being exploited by someone in a sacred position of trust—and, worse, enabled by superiors who knew the danger he posed.”
Ongoing Impact on the Blackfeet Community
The trauma inflicted by the doctor continues to reverberate across the Blackfeet Nation. A Blackfeet Tribal Councilmember said survivors still struggle with mental health issues and deep mistrust toward IHS.
“This whole doctor issue is still here,” he said. “I have constituents who are afraid for their children being treated by IHS. They ask, ‘How do we know this won’t happen again?’ The question is why IHS didn’t report this when they knew.”
Continued Tensions Between Blackfeet Nation and IHS
The Blackfeet Nation’s relationship with IHS remains strained. Tribal leaders have accused the agency of failing to make amends, noting that in 2019, an IHS director promised to build a wellness center to help heal the community—a promise that has not been fulfilled.
Frustration grew in June 2023, when the tribe declined a visit from then–IHS Director Roselyn Tso, citing a lack of progress on the project. By November 2023, tensions escalated further as the tribal council called for the removal of several IHS leaders, accusing them of neglecting the tribe’s needs and failing to provide meaningful support.
Jogger Wins $21M Settlement in King County Dog Mauling
King County has agreed to pay $21.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who was severely injured after being attacked by two dogs while jogging near her home in an unincorporated area of Auburn, Washington, in 2022.
The payout represents the largest personal injury settlement in the county’s history, according to the victim’s attorneys.
The 2022 Dog Attack
On February 22, 2022, the 38-year-old woman was out for a jog near 28000 45th Place South when two dogs suddenly ran out from a nearby home and attacked her. Hearing her screams, neighbors rushed to help but were unable to stop the mauling.
The woman suffered serious injuries to her head, legs, torso, and arms, including multiple broken bones. According to the lawsuit, the dogs dragged her across the road before King County Sheriff’s deputies arrived. One deputy ultimately shot and killed one dog, while the second was captured later by animal control officers.
Repeated Complaints Ignored
Neighbors told investigators that they had repeatedly complained about the property where the dogs lived, citing squatters, trash, and dangerous animals. Despite these reports, they said county officials failed to act.
According to the victim’s attorneys, residents had made more than 75 calls since 2018 to various county departments—including the Sheriff’s Office, Animal Care Services, and Code Enforcement—to report aggressive dogs, criminal activity, and unsanitary conditions on the property.
Settlement and Property Resolution
Following the settlement, the King County Executive’s Office issued a statement acknowledging the agreement. In addition to the county’s payment, the property owner agreed to pay the maximum limits of their homeowner’s insurance policy and to sell the property so the area can be cleaned up and restored.
The lawsuit also named the two dog owners as defendants, though no criminal charges have been filed against them.
Family’s Statement and Community Impact
In a statement, the woman’s family said they hope the settlement will lead to the cleanup of the nuisance property and help restore peace and safety to the neighborhood. “This tragedy should never have happened,” the family’s attorney said, emphasizing that the case highlights the importance of government accountability when repeated public safety warnings are ignored.
Watertown NY Schools Settle $3M ’60s Teacher Abuse Case
The Watertown City School District has agreed to pay $3 million to settle two lawsuits filed by women who say they were sexually assaulted by a teacher in the 1960s. Court documents filed in New York State Supreme Court this month confirm the settlement, which allocates $2.5 million to one woman and $500,000 to the other.
Allegations Against Former Teacher
According to the first lawsuit, the Case Junior High School teacher began molesting a 15-year-old student in 1966. The abuse allegedly continued for about three years, occurring both on school grounds and at other locations.
The second woman’s lawsuit claims she was sexually assaulted in 1968 when she was about 14 years old. The complaint states that the assault happened at the teacher’s home, where he allegedly lured her “under the guise of helping with schoolwork.” The teacher has denied all allegations in court filings.
District’s Denial and Settlement Decision
Both lawsuits assert that the school district knew or should have known about the teacher’s misconduct but failed to act. In court papers, the district denied wrongdoing, saying the settlement was reached to avoid further legal costs and prolonged litigation.
District Superintendent Larry Schmiegel confirmed the settlement in a statement, explaining that the district’s reserve funds and insurance coverage would fund the payments. “We are hopeful to have these matters concluded soon,” Schmiegel said, adding that the district cannot comment further on pending legal issues.
Legal Context: The Child Victims Act
The lawsuits were filed under New York’s Child Victims Act, enacted in 2019, which extended the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The law allowed victims to pursue civil cases that were previously time-barred, giving many the opportunity to seek justice decades after the abuse occurred.