Throughout its existence, Nye, Peabody, Stirling, Hale & Miller has successfully represented the interests of numerous victims of sexual abuse, as well as victims of a wide range of torts such as catastrophic personal injury and employment discrimination. Some of the firm’s more recent outstanding recoveries are in the following practice areas:

Sexual Abuse

$1,700,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Franciscans and the Archdiocese In 1998, NPSH&M sued the Franciscan Friars and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on behalf of one victim of convicted sex offender Father Robert Van Handel. After nearly three years of litigation, that lawsuit settled in the summer of 2000 for $1.7 million, the first seven-figure settlement before trial in the history of the clergy abuse scandal in the United States.

$1,400,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Diocese of Orange NPSH&M represented one of the plaintiffs in the 2004 $100,000,000 Diocese of Orange settlement, one of the largest global settlements in the history of the clergy abuse scandal.

$16,775,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Franciscans and the Archdiocese After being asked to associate in as lead trial counsel on the first of 25 cases set for trial, NPSH&M served as the lead negotiators for a group of lawyers representing 25 victims of clergy abuse by the Franciscan Friars. A global settlement of $28,450,000 was reached in 2006, including $16,775,000 to 14 victims represented by NPS&H.

$8,000,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles NPSH&M was part of the team of lawyers negotiating the largest global settlement in the history of the clergy abuse scandal, $660,000,000 from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2007. NPSH&M represented 8 victims of clergy abuse who received a total of $8,000,000 as part of the settlement.

$5,000,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Diocese of San Diego. NPSH&M led the investigation into the Diocese’s handling of one of the most notorious perpetrators in the history of the clergy abuse scandal, Father Edward Anthony Rodrigue.  The results of that investigation played a critical roll in the $198,000,000 global settlement reached in 2007 after the Diocese declared bankruptcy. NPSH&M represented 4 victims of clergy abuse by Father Rodrigue who received a total of $5,000,000 as part of the global settlement.

$550,000 settlement for sexual abuse of dependent adult In 2006 NPSH&M obtained a $550,000 settlement on behalf of a dependent adult woman who was sexually assaulted by a caregiver employed by the facility where the dependent adult lived.

$475,000 settlement for sexual abuse by stepfather and negligence by mother In 2006 NPSH&M obtained a $475,000 settlement on behalf of a young woman abused as a child by her stepfather.

$250,000 clergy abuse settlement from the Jesuits In 2003, NPSH&M sued the California and Missouri Jesuits, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on behalf of one clergy abuse victim of a former Jesuit priest. Despite the fact that the client was the first and only victim of the abuser to come forward, NPSH&M successfully negotiated a $250,000 settlement.

Personal Injury

$2.6 million judgment against a driver (and his employer) who struck a pedestrian NPSH&M represented a pedestrian injured in an auto accident. After a 15-day trial against the driver and his employer, the jury awarded $2.6 million to the pedestrian.

$2.35 million settlement against the driver in a hit-and-run accident In May 2004 NPSH&M represented the family of a pedestrian killed by a hit and run driver, and obtained a $2.35 million settlement on the family's behalf.

$690,000 jury verdict in Santa Barbara for a client who suffered personal injuries when a defective chair broke at her place of employment.  The case was tried by NPSH&M in Department 6 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court in 2009.  The trial lasted seven days, and resulted in a verdict approximately three times the amount of defendant’s highest pre-trial offer.

Defense verdict in Department 3 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court. NPSH&M represented defendants UCSB and an employee of the University in a twelve day jury trial. Plaintiffs sued the University and employee for negligent supervision and sexual abuse and requested damages of $8,000,000. NPSH&M secured a defense verdict.  The jury found in favor of both defendants after deliberations that lasted approximately twelve minutes. 

Employment

$3.2 million judgment against the City of Santa Barbara In May of 2002 NPSH&M obtained a $3.2 million judgment against the City of Santa Barbara in a 5-week gender bias trial on behalf of two female police officers.