San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Even if a person is convicted or acquitted (found not guilty) in criminal court of committing a certain crime, it does not mean that he is completely free from liability in a civil court. He may be sued by the victim, or the family of that victim for damages that the victim suffered. For example, in a murder case, even if the convicted defendant was found not guilty of all the charges, the victim’s family can still sue him for wrongful death in civil court without having to worry about double jeopardy.

In Fayette County, Kentucky on September 30, 2009, a jury awarded $55.9 million to the family of Christina Wittich for her murder in 2005. The award was broken down to $53 million in punitive damages, $1 million for pain and suffering and $1.9 million for lost wages. The verdict was against Michael J. Flick, an optometrist in the area. The incident arose because Flick was involved in a business disagreement with Wittich’s boyfriend, Randall Lambirth, who suffered a shot in the arm. Flick was convicted of intentional murder, first degree burglary and assault under extreme emotional disturbance and received a life sentence.

Even though we may not be able to bring back your family member or undo your injury, we can help you seek compensation for your injuries. The attorneys of Greenberg & Rudman LLP have won over $150 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We represent people who have been seriously injured as well as the families of those who have been killed under wrongful death circumstances. Give us a call at 1-800-252-9776 (1-800-ALAWPRO) for a free and confidential consultation of your case. Please visit us at www.alawpro.com for details on the verdicts and settlements we have won.