Examples of Baron Drexel's Practice and Success

The following cases provide examples of his practice and success. In the Spring of 1998, Baron was co-counsel in a malicious prosecution trial against two insurers. The trial lasted six weeks. The jury awarded $15.2 million in favor of Baron's clients. The most difficult challenge of the case was to convince a jury that the filing and maintenance of two declaratory relief lawsuits against the plaintiff and his corporation caused the plaintiff to suffer depression and as a consequence suffer great economic losses.

In 1999, Baron represented a woman who suffered from Multi-Chemical Sensitivity as a result of exposure to chemicals and hazardous materials at her job site. She had lost her Workman's Compensation suit and recovered a de minimus amount in her product's case. Baron spearheaded and obtained a six figure settlement under the American Disability's Act.

In 2000, Baron tried a tow truck accident wherein the plaintiff was injured by a co-employee at the job site and sued his employer and AAA who claimed that the employer was an independent contractor. The AAA lost its summary judgment motion based upon a dual employment argument and settled at the trial calendar. The tow truck company who failed to pay Worker's Comp premiums claimed that the plaintiff had only an x-ray anomaly, that his problems were minor, that his spondyloliothesis was pre-existing the accident. The San Francisco jury awarded roughly $500,000. With fees and costs, the judgment is roughly $750,000.

In 2001, Baron filed an appeal on behalf of a client who was found obligated to pay $1 million as a result of a business debt incurred by a friend when he invested into a corporation set up by the friend. The judgment was reversed.

In 2002, Baron obtained a default judgment in the amount of $5 million for a client who received the HIV-virus from a partner who lied about his HIV-status. The partner was formerly a SF Health commissioner. "People lie to each other, but when it comes to an issue like this, it's not justifiable at any level."

In 2003, Baron settled a lawsuit on behalf of 2 year old girl who suffered a burn when as an infant she rolled off the bed and into an uncovered heating pipe. The structured settlement will pay off over a $1million dollars through the college years.

In 2004, Baron settled a lawsuit on behalf of a plaintiff who suffered permanent paralysis in his right arm against the Martinez Unified School District. The plaintiff jumped 50 feet from the roof of the school gymnasium into the school pool; however, another boy attempted the jump and landed on the plaintiff's back as he was swimming to the side of the pool. The school district claimed that the roof was an obvious danger and students were not allowed to jump from the roof and knew that they should not jump. The plaintiff claimed that the school failed to supervise and that a tradition had taken place whereby high school students jumped from the roof into the pool every spring and summer. The case settled for $725,000.

Also, noteworthy in 2004 were two trials. One was a retrial of a punitive damage case against the CEO of a public company. In a prior trial, the judge awarded $150,000 in punitive damages against the CEO. In this retrial, Baron successfully defensed a claim in which the plaintiff's lawyer sought $450,000 in punitive damages; the judge awarded no punitive damages. In an automobile rear-ender, Baron was faced by the insurance company's hardball tactic of offering no money to settle what they claim to be a minimum impact accident. In this case, Baron tried the case without any liability expert and utilizing DVD stored videotaped depositions of the medical treaters and experts. The jury awarded $16,000 to a woman who claimed lower lumbar aggravation of a herniated disc. All costs were paid to the plaintiff by the defense, which were over $7500.00.

In 2005, we settled a federal civil rights action and state wrongful death action against a County and its Sheriff. We represented the widow and son of a 71 year old man, who was struck and killed by an automobile. The decedent attempted to get home by walking onto a highway, which lacked lighting on a dark evening. He was arrested near his home for a DUI at 6:45 p.m. two days after Christmas. When arrested, his blood alcohol level was .22% alcohol.

After death, his blood level was .08% alcohol. His car was impounded when he was arrested, and he was taken to a County jail, at a remote location. Not fed juice or food he was released from jail at approximately 11:23 p.m.When arrested he was stripped of his money. The jailer gave him a check when he was released. Without a vehicle or other means to get home, the decedent walked home on the nearby highway, which was the only route home. In short, there was no safe way home without a ride and the jailer released the decedent without warning and the jailer should have known that the decedent was still under the influence and had no ride. The case was settled for $175,000, following an Early Neutral Evaluation in federal court.

Since July 1999, Baron has complemented his personal injury practice with bankruptcy matters. He represents debtors in their chapter 7 filings and creditors and debtors in various bankruptcy litigation matters. In 2003, Baron represented the former founders and majority shareholders of a Nuclear Waste company in chapter 11 proceedings.