Bill Blankenship was appointed by Judge Seligman to the Plaintiffs’ Attorneys’ Executive Committee (PEC) in the Cordis IVC Filter Consolidated Litigation. Mr. Blankenship is one of six attorneys responsible for managing the consolidated proceeding for the over 4200 cases filed. Among many other things, Mr. Blankenship is responsible for conducting common fact discovery, developing expert witness opinions and testimony for all cases, presenting arguments to the Court for all pre-trial hearings, engaging in global settlement negotiations, conducting bellwether trials and coordinating and managing all Plaintiffs’ counsel in common benefit efforts. The case is In Re Cordis IVC Filter Cases, JCCP 4977, filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda.
After extensive discovery related to the CRUX™ Inferior Vena Cava Filter, Mr. Blankenship was able to secure significant confidential settlements for his injured clients. The case is Dorothy McCarty, et al. v. Crux Biomedical, Inc., et al., Case No. 37-2016-00035787, filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego.
As part of the PSC, Mr. Blankenship is responsible for overseeing discovery and trials for over 3000 cases filed against Cordis and consolidated in this proceeding. The case is In Re Cordis IVC Filter Cases, JCCP 4977, filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda.
On behalf of two clients severely injured after receiving defective inferior vena cava filters, Mr. Blankenship filed the first lawsuit in the nation seeking damages against Crux Biomedical, Inc., Volcano Corporation and their parent corporation, Philips Healthcare, related to its CRUX™ Inferior Vena Cava Filter. The case is Dorothy McCarty, et al. v. Crux Biomedical, Inc., et al., Case No. 37-2016-00035787, filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego.
After his TRAPEASE™ Inferior Vena Cava Filter fractured and migrated to his heart, Raymond Lilla died after open heart surgery to remove the filter. On behalf of his widow, Mr. Blankenship filed one of the first lawsuits in the nation seeking damages against Cordis Corporation related to its TRAPEASE™ Inferior Vena Cava Filter. The case is Heather Lilla v. Cordis Corporation, Case No. 502016CA-006931, filed in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida.
On behalf of a client who was rear ended by a drunk driver, Bill Blankenship filed suit against the driver of the other vehicle and tried the case to a jury. Bill made the decision to only submit pain and mental anguish, physical impairment and punitive damages to the jury. The jury awarded Bill’s client damages for each of the elements submitted, which exceeded the insurance policy limits of the defendant.
Bill Blankenship represented a client who started a small business with a family member. After the business was in operation, the family member claimed there was no agreement to run the business as partners. The lawsuit was heavily contested and went to trial in June of 2015. After a week long trial, the jury awarded Bill’s client all of his damages. After trial, the judge awarded Bill’s client all of his attorney fees as well.
Bill Blankenship represented the family of a 39 year old wife and mother of two young children who died after being given a large dose of a strong narcotic medication while in the hospital. Bill filed a lawsuit against the hospital and doctor and, after extensive discovery, was able to obtain a significant confidential settlement for the family.
On behalf of a client whose pelvis was shattered by a falling steel gate, Bill Blankenship filed a lawsuit against the company which designed, manufactured and installed the gate. The client spent 3 months in traction and 9 months learning to walk again. Unfortunately, he was unable to perform the type of work he previously performed and could not return to his previous job. Bill was able to maximize the confidential settlement which will provide lifetime income for the client.
Bill Blankenship represented the family of a 31 year old wife and mother of four young children who was murdered by an unknown assailant after she got out of her vehicle to buy a Coke from a vending machine at their apartment complex. Bill filed suit against the owner and manager of the complex for negligent security. After extensive discovery related to previous violent acts on the premises, Bill was able to secure a significant confidential settlement for the husband and young children.
On behalf of a widow and her 5 year old daughter, Bill Blankenship filed a lawsuit against a crane owner and operator for the death of his clients’ husband and father. While nothing can replace such a loss, Bill was able to obtain a significant confidential settlement which will provide for lifetime income for both the wife and daughter
On behalf of fifteen working interest owners, Bill Blankenship filed a lawsuit against the operator of an oil and gas well for failure to pay his clients’ share of production from a successful well. The case was hotly contested for over three years and finally went to trial in October of 2009. After obtaining a verdict and the entry of judgment against the defendants, Bill was able to collect all amounts owed to his clients and recover their attorney fees and costs.
