What a judge or jury decides is an important measure of societal values concerning children.  It is also a measure of how carefully the evaluation work is conducted and how effectively an expert communicates his findings. Expert testimony and comprehensive forensic services we provided helped legal counsel achieve jury awards and settlements –mainly for children– well in excess of  $2,000,000,000  (two billion dollars).

JURY AWARDS:   Jury awards and settlements as of July 30, 2003 exceeded $290,000,000 for children on behalf of whom Dr. Kliman testified. In the ensuing five years, large awards and advantageous settlements totaling almost $800,000,000 more continued to result.  These were mainly in children’s cases. Preventive Psychiatry Associates provided comprehensive forensic services including: videotaped psychiatric interviews, detailed opinion reports, expert witness testimony, life care plans and associated cost calculations and other forensic documentation such as time-lining of documents and clinical information.

DEFENSE TASKS:  Multi-victim molestations cases involving over 20 plaintiffs were recently dealt with at the request of defense attorneys, who often represented churches. The results were to the satisfaction of the defense attorneys.  We believe they appreciated the care and impartiality of our evaluations.  

RECENT CASES:  In 2007, Gilbert Kliman MD provided key psychiatric testimony as the principal psychiatric expert and administrative liability witness in a widely reported case against the Roman Catholic Church, Los Angeles Archdiocese, involving multiple child sexual molestations and institutional negligence which resulted in a large settlement, shared among all plaintiffs. Following the list below is a Case List of Deposition and Trial Testimony by Gilbert Kliman, MD. 

Below is a partial list of cases which included depositions or trial testimony, showing jury awards and settlement amounts for those which are not confidential. This is a good survey for seeing a range of cases for which Preventive Psychiatry Associates has extensive successful experience:

Bernie Allard, Esq.
John Cardosi, Esq.
San Jose, CA Sexual Molestation of a learning disabled boy, negligence by Church Doe, et al V. Holy Redeemer Lutheran church, et al Alameda Co. Court #H2039.83.3

Confidential Settlement

Bernie Allard, Esq.
John Cardosi, Esq.
San Jose, CA criminal aspect of above case: State of CA v. Howard D. Deport
Alameda Superior Ct #H.26229 Written report given to prosecution.

Conviction

Arvid Anderson
Anderson Burns & Hostnik
Tacoma, WA Alleged sexual molest of five year old daughter, by father. Kliman was expert for father. Arai v. Arai
Superior Ct Tacoma WA 94-3-058816-8

Father gained custody of child

Jack Anthony
Law Offices of Jack Anthony
Santa Ana, CA Institutional Negligence. Child Molestation in Foster Home. Rape of Boy. John Doe v. Co. of San Bernardino, State of CA, John Rodriguez, Jorge Rey-lara, et al.

Award $5.7 Million

Jack Anthony
Law Offices of Jack Anthony
Santa Ana, CA
Institutional Negligence - Residential Facility. Rape of boy by therapeutic counselor during the course of employment. Institutional negligence. Jury awarded punitive damages. John Doe. V. Chaparral Treatment Center, Victor Treatment Centers, Inc. Co. of San Bernardino, St of CA. et al.

Award 3.7 Million

Don E. Bailey
Valerie Karpman
Bailey and Karpman
San Francisco, CA Federal trial: Kidnapping and rape of military dependent during a picnic San JoseCircuit Court , CA. C8920579

Child and family awarded $800,000

Charles A. Bonner
Sausalito, CA Rape of young women during course of robbery. Negligence by landlord. Lisa Pendleton & Sheila Mulligan v. Peppertree Shopping Center, et al - Alameda Co. Superior Court Case #H.165123.4 

Award $300,000 per plaintiff

Michael Brown
Rivkin, Radler & Kremer
Pasadena, CA Vehicular accident: multiple injured persons w/physical and psychological injuries Durney v. Ford, et al.

Confidential award to plaintiffs

Lee Burdick
William K. Sanders
Prima Legal Services
Redwood City, CA Federal: Product liability. Pacemaker failure with severe psychological trauma. Hern v. Intermedic

Award, Jury 7-0 on liability & damages, $1,200,000

Gary Burns
Anderson Burns & Hostnik
Tacoma, WA School negligence, re safety of a retarded child Ashworth v. Harris
932097455

Settlement $40,000

Gary Burns
Anderson Burns & Hostnik
Tacoma, WA Church negligence re youth leader's alleged sexual molestations of three minors Children v. Tacoma
Community Church

Confidential settlement

Joseph W. Campbell
Digardi & Campbell,
Oakland, CA 685483-4

Confidential Settlement

John Cardosi, Esq.
Popelka & Allard
San Jose, CA Church youth leader allegedly molests children. Gullo et al v. Jubilee Christian Center et al. 

Settlement $2.5 Million

Darell L. Cochran
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Federal: Alleged negligence and molestation at a USN supervised day care center Hamilton v. USA
C94-5183B

Settlement $400,000

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA School negligence. Child molestations by junior high basketball coach. Children v. Coach Williams & Lakeview School District 87-2-19928-2

Settlement $7,000,000

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Brain damage to father, loss of
parental and conjugal services. Carlisle v. CTI, 93-2 19696-2

Confidential Settlement

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Brain damage to father, loss of
parental and conjugal services. Carlisle v. Bremen Motor Co.,
95-2-11938-7

Confidential Settlement

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Institutional negligence.
Human services failure. Child
molestations. Hatley v. OK Boys Ranch
932002243

Settlements $18,500,000

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Institutional negligence. Child
molestation in foster care home.
Child was mute, blind and deaf. Hall v. Skagit Co. Dept. of Social & Health Services
94-2-00102-4 Defense.

Rape not proven.

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Michelle Hunt
John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Child molestation in day care. Two plaintiffs. Kemp/Hamilton v. St. of WA
#91208186

Confidential settlement

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Negligent parole supervision leads to homicide of 17 year old McFarland v. State of WA, et al. 

Award $6.7 Million

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Institutional negligence.
Homicidal assault on a child in college cafeteria. McMahan v Tacoma Community College

Award $2,100,000 to child and mother for psychological damages.

John Connelly
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Tacoma, WA Child molestation due to negligence in a day care center. Kemp/Hamilton children v. State of WA

Confidential settlement

Robert W. Crabtree
Crabtree, Schmidt, Zeff, et al.
Modesto, CA Psychological damage of grandchildren and mother witnessing decapitation of grandmother Brashear v CA State Aut.

Settlement $100,000

Robert W. Crabtree
Crabtree, Schmidt, Zeff, et al.
Modesto, CA Alleged negligence by highway patrol. Black v. Timoshevick et al
531323

Judgment for Defense

Donald Davis
Offices of Donald Davis
Palo Alto, CA Visitation rights of father sought. G. Kliman was father's expert. Davis v. Davis, Family Court ofPalo Alto #2592300

Father awarded visitation rights

John Day
Branham & Day
Knoxville, TN Sexual Molestation, claim of institutional neglect by Church. Question of proximate cause. Does v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville, Eddward J. McKeown et al - #OOC.164/OOC.175

Summary Judgement for Defense

Thomas Driscoll, Jr.
Mullen, Sullivan & Newton
Lodi, CA Severe eye injury to child with psychological damage Bond v. Goehring
228366

Confidential settlement

Mark E. Floyd
Pryor Flynn Priest & Harber
Knoxville, TN Institutional Neglect in a Therapeutic Residential School. Boy rapes boy. Hendrix, b/n/f et al v. Three Springs, Inc. et al - U.S. District Court, Nashville Division, Docket #1.99.0191

Award $440,000

Janis A. Gabbert
Law Office Maurice Moyal
Concord, CA Blakely v. Macedo - Contra Costa Sup. Ct. #C9201898

Confidential Settlement

Sanford M. Gage
James Craig
Beverly Hills, CA Loss of parental services. Blake v. United Airlines
90C 7300

Confidential settlement

Sanford M. Gage
James Craig
Beverly Hills, CA Loss of parental services. Wilde v. UAL

Confidential settlement

Robert Gair
Gair Gair & Conason
New York, NY Loss of parental services. Two children are orphaned of both parents in a restaurant explosion. (Ann Street, NY) Children v. Con.Edisonand City of NY

Award $10,000,000

Precedent was established for use of psychiatric testimony in cases of loss of parental services. See Conason, R Catastrophic Psychological Damages.

Franza Giffen
Newsom Giffen & Bacon
San Francisco, CA Maternal death, two children lose parental services, father loses conjugal services. Brown v. Golden Gt.
Disposal #876372

Confidential settlement

David Glassy
Bogle and Gates
Seattle, WA Institutional negligence. Reckless indifference to children's welfare. Psychological trauma to child and parent-child relationship Doe vs. OK Boys' Ranch, Kiwanis, and State of Washington. 

Confidential settlement

Richard Grant
San Rafael, CA
Custody dispute
Marriage of Boyer
Marin Co. Sup Ct.#FL 1811

Confidential settlement

Richard Haggart
Maloney & Haggart
Anchorage, AK Mead v. Robinson, et al.
3AN.93.5245 CIVIL
Superior Court of Alaska
Christopher Hays
San Francisco, CA Visitation dispute.  Morganti v. Hoepper. G. Kliman was mother's expert.

Mother prevailed

Paul Higaki
Travis & Pons
Oakland, CA Sexual abuse of young boy. Dore v. Dennison.

Confidential settlement

Marc June
Law Office of Marc June
Anchorage, AK Juneau Superior Court
Diamond Courthouse
Juneau, AK
Marc June
Law Office of Marc June
Anchorage, AK Airline crash: wrongful death; loss of parental services Kavairlook v. Ryan Air

Award shared among four families $8,000,000

Fredric F. Kay
Federal Public Defender
Phoenix, AZ
Assistance requested to the Federal Public Defender in its representation of Sam Stone in litigation relating to the defense of his federal charges and challenge or mitigation of any sentence imposed in Arizona.

Guidance requested on issues pertaining to childhood trauma and the effect that trauma had on Mr. Stone during his late juvenile years into early adulthood.

U.S. v. Samuel Stone
Edward Kreski
Zeff & Zeff, PC
Detroit, MI Mother and four children lose services by death of father in construction accident. Mcle v. Chrysler Corp

Confidential settlement

Dennis Maloney
Anchorage, AL Blevins Personal Injury
Dennis Maloney
Anchorage, AK, Doyle v. Van Houton Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death

Confidential Settlement

Doug McPhearson
Heller Ehrman White

San Francisco, CA Two families with three adults and five children. Negligent barring of exits. Fire caused victims to leap from third floor, resulting in brain damage and psychological trauma Jones v. SF Housing Authority #954965.

Confidential settlement

Fred Meier
Gardere and Wynne
Dallas, TX Federal. Mid-air collision.
Loss of spousal and parental services. Baskin v. Commercial Jet
Federal Circuit Court,Jackson, MS.

Award $3,500,000

John Messina
Messina Law Firm
Tacoma, WA Malpractice. Wrongful diagnosis of multiple personality disorder. Two children with loss of parental services. Fields v. Good
Samaritan Hospital

Confidential settlement

Michael Misner
Gordon & Misner
Gig Harbor, WA
Malpractice. Failure to diagnose
Fragile X Syndrome with resultant psychological damages
Hafer vs. Multicare
Pierce Co Sup Ct 92-2-12279-6

Defense not liable

Arthur Morgan
Halkides & Morgan
Redding CA Two children lost parental services, both parents died. Jenkins v. Acme Tractor Jury

Award $1,200,000

Patrick Morris
Groeckenberger and Wilson
Santa Barbara, CA Loss of parental service, two boys. [First case in California for which psychiatric testimony on this topic was given] Gilman v. Long Beach
SOC94258

Award $2,225,000

Kate Porter
Dallas Co. Asst. DA
Dallas, Texas Kos
Dan Rapaport
Wendel & Rosen
Oakland, CA Child burned by propane heater.
Posttraumatic stress disorder. Kanwwar Bagai v. Scheu Products Co et al. C 95-01995.

Confidential settlement

David Rubens
Spokane, WA Child molested by older student
aggressor in a schoolyard Hill v. Washtucna.

Award $650,000

Eric M. Safire
Safire Law Offices
Oakland, CA. Carmen Ruvalcaba v. Nancy Ham and Enrique Ham dba Ly Luck Restaurant. Negligence. Child burned by scalding tea. Carmen Ruvalcaba and Jennifer Gonzalez, through her Guardian as Litem, Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Alameda 2000. Expert: Gilbert Kliman (San Francisco , CA ) Psychiatry.
Verdict-Mixed

Confidential settlement

Daniel Stenson
Hill, Schwartz, Stenson
San Francisco, CA Wrongful handling of child's remains (Federal) Allander v. US
C893932CAL

Confidential settlement

Stephen Tigerman
Bokelman, Borowsky, et al
San Francisco, CA Kidnapping of son, with resultant psychological harm. Smith v. Davis
679929-Q.

Confidential settlement

Windle Turley
Offices of Windle Turley
Dallas, TX Sexual molestation, negligence by employer (Church employing a priest) Does v. Rev Rudolph Kos& Dallas Catholic Diocese. 93-05258-G.  J

Award $119,600,000, including $18,000,000 punitive damages

Robert Valentino
LO of Sanford M. Gage
Beverly Hills, CA Loss of parental services, airline
crash. Banks v. United Airlines
90-C7300.

Confidential settlement

Roger K. Vehrs
Fresno, CA Foster child suffers brain injury Figueroa et al v Co. Fresno, et al 514745-4.

Defense, no liability

Roger K. Vehrs
Fresno, CA
Heller v. Norcal, Yamaguchi, et al.
Roger K. Vehrs
Fresno, CA Nichols v. Shanklin 481627.8

Confidential settlement

Stephen Von Till
Von Till & Assoc.
Fremont, CA Child swallows lye from glassthat looks like soda in arestaurant Doe v. Smith Restaurant.

Confidential settlement

Phillip Paul Weidner
Weidner & Assoc
Anchorage, AK, Loss of parental & conjugal services (two children) following a commercial diver's scuba valve failure McCasland v. Trelleborg Valve

Award $3,800,000

Harold Zabin, Esq.
Law Firm of Marks Clare & Richards
Omaha, NE. John Doe v. The Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha and Daniel Herek; Jane Doe v. The Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha and Daniel Herek. Sexual Harrassment, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Negligence. 2002 Douglas County District Court, NE. Plaintiff Expert: Gilbert Kliman (San Francisco, CA ) Psychiatry.

Award $655,500

Chad Bellows v. Gaffers & Sattler and Alarmguard Holdings, Inc. 2002  Premises Liability.  Plaintiff, a 9-month-old male, was injured when he put his hands on a wall furnace located in the hallway of the family's apartment. Gaffers & Sattler was the manufacturer. Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Experts: Gilbert Kliman ( San Francisco , CA ) Psychiatry

Award $562,000

LIST OF DEPOSITION AND TRIAL TESTIMONY of Medical Director, Gilbert Kliman, MD        

last updated June 23, 2007