We treat the cases handled by GRG for our clients as confidential, both as to the identity of our clients and the settlements or verdicts achieved on their behalf. For this reason we have omitted client and case names in our description of representative cases successfully handled by GRG except when the case has received widespread publicity in the media. Please click on the case description for more news about those cases which are marked with a **.

We caution viewers that past results reported on this Web site afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.

Automobile and Truck Accidents

**$5 Million Settlement in Drunken Driver Wrongful Death Lawsuit

**Fatal I-44 Crash in Missouri settles for $1.4M

**Confidential settlement for the family in a case involving a major trucking accident in which five family members died.

**$5.9 million settlement for family of 42-year-old man killed in a tractor trailer collision.

**$3.6 million settlement for wrongful death of an elderly woman whose death was caused by complications of injuries sustained when a tractor trailer collided with her automobile.

$2.8 million for the death of a 36-year-old wife/mother and serious injuries to two young daughters as a result of a tragic head-on collision.

**Damages to the family of a man who was killed at a truck stop parking lot when he was run over by an 18-wheel tractor trailer.

Jury verdict of $675,000 in favor of driver of automobile against trucking company for personal injury.

**Jury verdict in St. Louis County for man injured when he was struck by van while attempting to repair his stalled vehicle on the interstate.

**Jury verdict in St. Louis City for emotional injuries suffered by a passenger involved in an automobile accident with an uninsured driver.

**An airport mechanic was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by a baggage handler at Lambert St. Louis International Airport. McCarrison's surviving spouse, mother and children sued the co-worker for failure to keep a careful lookout and the City of St. Louis for maintaining a dangerous work practice.

Aviation and other Representative Matters

Gray, Ritter & Graham attorney Morry S. Cole obtained a $150,000 verdict on behalf of a 79-year-old man injured on the campus of Maryville University in St. Louis.    Leonard DeMoor was attending a class reunion at Maryville when he attempted to board a golf cart transporting attendees.  The driver of the cart drove off before Mr. DeMoor was seated, causing him to fall off.  He suffered a seriously broken leg in the fall.  Prior to the jury returning the $150,000 verdict at the conclusion of the two-day trial, Maryville offered Cole’s client $10,000 to settle the case

**Tom Neill settled a case in which a man was injured by a former St. Louis Rams player. The former player pleaded guilty to criminal charges stemming from the same incident.

**Jury awards plaintiffs $2.325 million against utility, AmerenUE, as a result of two injuries and death allegedly caused by stray voltage from a 7,200 volt Ameren distribution line. This is the first known reported case in the United States where a utility has been successfully sued as a result of injury or death due to stray voltage from a utility’s high voltage distribution line buried in a lake.

**$21 million dollar jury verdict for the deaths of two military pilots when their helicopter flew into unmarked electric transmission lines near Lake of the Ozarks. Verdict was upheld on appeal.

**$1.67 million settlement by the St. Louis Archdiocese for the sexual abuse of a 5-year-old child by an ordained priest.

In a premises liability case, the client was staying at the Renaissance Jamaica Grand Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After getting out of bed on his first day at the resort, the 68 year old client slipped and fell on a puddle of water that had accumulated on the tile floor around the air conditioner in his room during the night. He suffered a severe closed head injury causing chronic headaches and visual impairment. He also sustained a fractured left femoral break which required hip arthroplasty to insert a prosthetic implant.

Medical, Hospital or Other Professional Negligence

**Jury verdict by Pettis County jury for mother of newborn who died as a result of improper care.

**A confidential settlement was reached on the second day of trial with a radiologist who performed a procedure which resulted in a 48-year-old St. Louis man becoming a paraplegic.

**Settlement for a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a compromised birth. The child is also blind and deaf and has an uncertain life expectancy. The settlement will guarantee his future care.

Jury verdict of $5.2 million in case which involved allegations of medical negligence during delivery which resulted in brain damage to the child. Affirmed on appeal; case represents the highest malpractice jury award ever rendered in Southeast Missouri.

**Devastating brain injury to 4-month old child resulting from negligent medications and overdose.

**Case against doctor, anesthesia personnel and hospital for family of a woman who suffered extensive blood loss during a D&C surgery which caused brain damage and ultimately her death.

Confidential settlement for the husband and daughter of Olympic Gold Medalist, Florence Griffith Joyner, (Flo-Jo) in a wrongful death action against a hospital, neurologist and radiologist for their failure to diagnose and treat a brain lesion.

Death of 34 year old woman resulting from the failure of a commercial laboratory to diagnose cervical cancer.

A young mother was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the alleged poisoning death of her infant son with antifreeze. After the conviction, GRG agreed to represent the mother and her husband. The conviction was overturned and the mother was released from prison. A wrongful death claim was then successfully pursued against a hospital, physicians and commercial laboratory by proving the baby was never poisoned. Instead, the evidence established their cumulative failures to make a proper diagnosis of an inborn metabolic disease known as methylamonic acidemia that, if treated properly could have saved the baby's life. This case was ultimately the subject of many medical articles, documentaries, and a made-for-television movie, "Without a Kiss Goodbye".

Robert Ritter talked with MSNBC about the Patty Stallings case for their program When Forensics Fail: Krone & Stallings. Click here to review the television program.

Profound neurological injuries sustained by a 12-year-old boy during surgery for a routine outpatient hernia repair due to anesthesia error. This case has received national attention.

Confidential settlement with physicians and hospital for the medical and nursing mismanagement of congenital heart disease in a 2-year-old child resulting in profound neurological damage.

Settlement for severe injuries to man following negligent gall bladder surgery and mismanagement after surgery.

Jury award for failure to treat open abscess in nursing home resulting in loss of leg.

Confidential settlement in a case involving use of an incorrectly sized balloon catheter during angioplasty, which caused a valve in the heart of a 5-month-old child to tear.

Case for the wrongful death of a 4-year-old due to failure of a pediatrician to diagnose bacterial endocarditis.

Confidential settlement with physicians and a hospital for devastating brain injuries suffered by child during labor and delivery.

Severe neurological injuries to a newborn which resulted from poorly managed and monitored labor and delivery involving negligent delivery after a previous Caesarean Section.

Death of a 68-year-old man with a surviving wife and eight children following trauma to his neck and spinal cord during a surgical procedure.

Wrongful death of a 6-year-old child following physician's failure to timely diagnose and treat Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Case against hospital and physicians for delay in treating a neck injury resulting in hypoxia and brain damage.

Case against physician for operating on the wrong hip.

Severe damage resulting from failure to properly deliver and treat fetus following cardiac arrest of mother.

Improper delivery of drug to an artery rather than a vein leading to amputation of leg.

Delay in diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess leading to paralysis and eventual death.

Product Liability

 

**Confidential settlement for a lawsuit filed against the maker, importer and seller of a Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) muzzleloader rifle that exploded when it was used.

**Recovery for a teenage boy who was injured when a hunting rifle accidentally discharged. GRG provided evidence that the rifle was defective by showing that the gun would release the firing pin and discharge a bullet without pulling the trigger.

**$6.5 settlement for man sprayed by sulfuric acid when a defective discharge hose ruptured in the workplace.

**$4.5 million dollar jury verdict for family of 20-year-old man who died while asleep at home from explosion due to natural gas leak.

Case involving severe burns to a 36-year-old man following gas explosion in a house resulting from deteriorating underground gas supply lines.

Confidential settlement for severe injury to a child and deaths of her sister and uncle following failure of a "sky ride" at an amusement park due to defective design and maintenance.

Jury verdict for our client in a product liability action when an equipment design defect resulted in partial loss of toes on one foot.

Recovery for a 9-year-old boy who was severely burned and disfigured, including loss of facial features and amputation of fingers when a gas can exploded. Case involved dangerous and defective design of the spout on the can.

Confidential settlement for a family for severe injuries to the father and two minor children and the deaths of the mother and another child resulting from seat belt failure of their late model Toyota sedan.

Amputation of arm of a 19-year old when a machine press failed due to defectively designed limit switches.

Severe injuries to a 3-year-old child which resulted when defective suture material used during open-heart surgery failed and the child hemorrhaged.

Confidential settlement in a case of multiple deaths resulting from a highway rollover accident involving a Toyota SUV.

FELA Railroad Workers Injuries

**Railroad failed to provide a safe work place. A railroad electrician filed a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act against Union Pacific alleging that excessive walking in the workplace contributed to a painful inflammatory condition in his feet that ultimately required surgery. The Appeals Court affirmed the verdict, which granted compensation for the injuries sustained during employment.

Skull fracture and neurological injury to carman when defective hatch on locomotive engine failed.

Permanently disabling back injuries to switchman attempting to throw a frozen switch.

Verdict for a security employee who suffered a disabling spinal injury when a train moved without warning while he was inspecting a tri-level car, throwing him to the bedrock.

Case for carman suffering severe, disabling burn injuries as a result of fire on a railroad car.

Severely disabling burn injuries to railroad switchman following explosion in the rail yard.

Verdict of $500,000 in Detroit, Michigan federal court for worker with bulging disc in neck.

Verdict of $1 million for railroad laborer with back and neck injuries caused by defective car mover.

Verdict of $700,000 in St. Louis for railroad worker with back injury who returned to work.

Verdict for office worker who suffered carpal tunnel from repetitive motion.

Verdict of $240,000 for railroader with asbestosis who continued working.

Settlement during trial for electrician suffering back injury while throwing defective switch.

Settlement for worker in Beaumont, Texas with back injury from connecting defective air hose.

Settlement of numerous cases in Detroit, Michigan against railroad guilty of repeated safety violations.

Settlement for railroad engineer whose locomotive seat malfunctioned, causing disabling back and neck injuries.

Settlement for Arkansas manager who fell fifteen feet through an unguarded opening in the warehouse.

Settlement for Mississippi railroad foreman injured due to company's violation of Hours of Service Act.

Settlement for railroad engineer who fell in engine compartment with inadequate lighting, sustaining serious back injuries.

Settlement during trial for Arkansas railroad engineer and conductor injured in crossing accident with rice truck. Both workers suffered back and leg injuries.

Settlement for Arizona trainman injured as a result of company's violation of Federal Hours of Service Act.

Settlement for family injured at unmarked unlighted crossing in Arkansas.

Settlement in Arkansas federal court case for client whose husband was killed at a crossing with site obstructions. Sanctions awarded as a result of railroad's destruction of evidence.

Settlement for Southeast Missouri family whose mother was killed at a crossing with malfunctioning signals.

Jones Act

Settlement for river worker injured as a result of slippery conditions on deck of vessel in Southeast Missouri.

Settlement for river deckhand who injured his back as a result of excessive lifting and inadequate assistance from fellow crew members.

Verdict for deckhand with broken leg sustained on vessel during towing operations.

Settlement for casino worker with severe hand injury, caused by improper safety procedures.

Complex Business Disputes

**Information gathered from more than 50,000 pieces of e-mail proved to be the power behind a $1.6 million breach of contract settlement involving two electricity-generating units built and installed by Wartsila North America, Inc., and operated by the city of Kennett, Mo.

Obtained Federal Court judgment for widow on $3,000,000 life insurance policy where husband's death was alleged to have been result of occupational disease. Case settled through mediation during appeal.

**Bank settles Vexatious Refusal to pay suit against insurance company for $1,750,000.

$715,000 settlement for school district in construction litigation over defective construction of a high school roof.

**Claim for property owners whose land was contaminated by leaching of fuel products.

$3 million dollar verdict in Jefferson County for damages sustained by a family operating a pay-to-fish business when highway construction resulted in mud and debris contaminating their ponds.

Represented former president of securities firm who was terminated. Claim was that termination violated his employment agreement. Prevailed at arbitration and on appeal Arbitrator's award was affirmed.

Consumer Litigation

**Two southeast Missouri rice farmers were awarded more than $2 million in the first of a series of "test" trials in which rice farmers in five states have brought suit against Bayer Cropscience alleging contamination of their crops by Bayer.  Don Downing was the lead counsel for the two Missouri farmers and is co-lead counsel of the five-state multi-district litigation.

**A St. Louis Circuit County judge has certified a class action against AT&T. The lawsuit could potentially affect tens of thousands of customers in five states that allegedly received slower DSL speeds than AT&T had advertised.

**Missouri Supreme Court approved the right of groups exposed to toxins (but displaying no injuries) to form class-action lawsuits seeking funds to monitor their medical progress.

**Suit filed on behalf of hundreds of rice farmers in several states based upon economic damages they suffered from contamination of their crops with an unapproved genetically modified strain of rice seed produced by Bayer Cropscience, a German-based agriculture company. Discovery of the contamination in the farmers' rice supply led to a dramatic drop in U.S. rice prices.

**Class certification obtained in an action brought on behalf of all Missouri purchasers of the prescription drug Vioxx. Don Downing, along with co-lead counsel Pat Stueve of Kansas City, obtained class certification in an action brought on behalf of all Missouri purchasers of the prescription drug Vioxx. The case alleges that the drug's manufacturer, Merck, mislead the consuming public about the drug's true safety profile, and thereby violated Missouri's Merchandising Practices Act. The case seeks economic losses only.  

**Case against hospitals for overcharging uninsured patients

**Suit to nullify as unconstitutional a Missouri voter identification statute.

**Suits against the agricultural company that produced a modified rice seed, known as "Liberty Link Rice." Some foreign and domestic purchasers have shunned the rice crop after traces of a genetically modified rice variety were discovered in Missouri and Arkansas rice bins. More than 200 farmers were named in the suit which involves more than 125,000 acres of farmland.

**Multi-district ligation alleging consumer fraud, negligence, and unjust enrichment concerning the sale of organic milk by Aurora Dairy Corp. Aurora is the nation's largest producer of private-label organic milk.

**Confidential settlement for 70 farmers whose 41,000 acres of cotton were damaged by herbicide "drift."

Claims against the manufacturer of Bard Composix Kugel surgical patches which were implanted during abdominal hernia surgery for patients who experienced abdominal pain, bowel perforation, and chronic enteric fistulas related to the surgical mesh.

**Claims for individuals who developed Fusarium eye fungus infections (which are potentially blinding) against the manufacturer of the eye drops.

Consumer class action against a termite extermination company for misrepresentation in failing to treat foundations of homes with the amount of termiticide it had agreed to supply.

Six separate class cases against a lead mining company for property contamination over a wide geographical area.

**Missouri Supreme Court approved the right of groups exposed to toxins (but displaying no injuries) to form class-action lawsuits seeking funds to monitor their medical progress.

$30 million recovery against a public utility for unconstitutional rate increased levied against sewer district customers.

Matters against insurance companies for unfair dealings in co-pay arrangements.

Case against an insurance company involving "forced insurance" for mobile home coverage.

Case against an insurance company for improper premium charges for "medigap" coverage.

Case against a cable television provider for charging excessive fees.

Suit against multiple mortgage loan organizations for statutory fee violations.

Lawsuit on behalf of the State of Missouri against major tobacco companies for years of medical cost for tobacco-related injuries and deaths that resulted from decades of deception by the tobacco industry regarding the deadly nature of tobacco by-products and the profoundly addictive compounds in smoking and chewing tobacco. The case ended in a historic settlement with the tobacco defendants agreeing to pay the state $6.7 billion dollars.