$57 Million Judgment Won by Attorney Fernando Chavez, of Miami and San Jose Based Law Offices of Chavez & De Leon, P.A.
- Judge says "largest verdict" ever for Los Angeles County Courthouse
- Hispanic immigrant left severely brain damaged and physically deformed after beating by private security guard
- Verdict given in area known for conservative judgments
MIAMI, July 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawyer Fernando F. Chavez of Chavez & De Leon, P.A., with Miami and San Jose offices—along with attorney Federico Castelan Sayre—won what is said to be the largest judgment in the history of the South Bay Court, known for its traditionally conservative judgments.
Nearly $58 million was awarded to Antonio Lopez Chaj, a Los Angeles immigrant who remains permanently brain damaged and physically deformed after being severely beaten by a security guard in a Los Angeles bar on April 19, 2010. His injuries were so grave that doctors removed a portion of his brain and skull. Mr. Lopez Chaj cannot speak, needs assistance to walk, eat and take care of himself and requires 24 hour a day help.
The jurors quickly confirmed the case for the plaintiff against DGSP Security and Patrol Services. The night of the attack, Mr Lopez Chaj and three relatives were involved in a fight in a Los Angeles bar. A security guard struck him in the head with a baton several times and pulled him outside the bar. He repeated to hit him in the head and slammed his head into the pavement multiple times.
The attorneys Chavez and Sayre requested and secured a judgment for nearly $58 million dollars—in economic and medical losses, future medical expenses, lost earnings in addition to pain and suffering.
John De Leon, managing shareholder of the firm, and Mr. Chavez retained the case to represent the family of Mr. Lopez Chaj. "Our law firm is dedicated to fighting for justice of immigrants in the United States and for protecting their civil rights," said Mr. De Leon. "This verdict for the injuries suffered by a then undocumented immigrant highlights that just juries are prepared to compensate injured parties, regardless of immigration status, fully. It is a great day for the American justice system."
Mr. Chavez, a renowned plaintiff's attorney, is the son of the late civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, the legendary farm labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union. Mr. Sayre previously won a $3.8 million judgment from the Los Angeles Police department for the videotaped beating of Rodney King in 1991.
The Law Offices of Chavez & De Leon, P.A., founded in February 2003, and has grown into one of the premier personal injury, civil rights, employment and immigration related firms. The firm is selected partner of the Consulate General of Mexico's legal assistance program for its nationals, and JURIMEX—the Mexican government's judicial program within the Mexican Consulate's jurisdiction in South Florida, and in Northern California.
The firm has settled millions of dollars throughout its history in cases ranging from catastrophic construction accidents, multiple death trucking accidents and automobile fatalities, catastrophic injury, workplace discrimination and harassment cases, premises liability, negligent security, negligent engineering and construction and design matter, defective automobile tire, sophisticated products liability cases, and collective actions against corporations.
Chavez & De Leon is also been committed to fighting for civil rights of its clients and has won settlements, verdicts, and judgments in some nationally publicized and groundbreaking civil rights, police shooting, and immigrant rights cases.
Website: www.chavez-deleon.com. Address: 5975 Sunset Drive, #605, South Miami, Fl. 33143, (305) 740-5347, E-Mail:[email protected]
SOURCE Chavez & De Leon, P.A.
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