Harthshorne, et al. v. Metlife Inc., et al.

Summary

A unanimous 12-member jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff Christine Ramirez, 75, following an 8-week trial during which her attorneys claimed MetLife and subsidiaries New England Life Insurance Co. and New England Securities looked the other way while brokers sold investors on a bogus fund called the Diversified Lending Group. Government regulators exposed DLG as a scam operation in 2009, and its founder Bruce Friedman later died in a French prison fighting extradition to the United States on related criminal charges.

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Outcome

The percentages of fault assigned by the jury:

MetLife: 20%
NELICO: 7.5%
NES/MetLife Securities: 7.5%
Tony Russon: 30%
Russon Financial: 30%
Scott Brandt: 5%

Phase 2 -
The jury has awarded Plaintiff Christine Ramirez a total of $15,360,000 in punitive damages.

-$10,000,000 MetLife
-$2,500,000 NES/MetLife Sec.
-$2,500,000 NELICO
-$360,000 Tony Russon

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Ramirez, Christine
Defense: MetLife, Inc.
Russon Financial Services, Inc.
Brandt, Scott
Verdict: $15,360,000

Judge: Kenneth Freeman
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of California, Los Angeles
Court: Central Civil West Courthouse

Case Number: BC576608
Industry: Finance
Practice Area: Financial Services

Plaintiff

Ramirez, Christine

Represented By:
Donahoo, Richard (Donahoo & Associates, PC)
Foley, Thomas (Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, LLP)

Defense

MetLife, Inc.

Defense

Russon Financial Services, Inc.

Represented By:
Peters, Theodore (Edgerton & Weaver, LLP )

Defense

Brandt, Scott

Represented By:
Ames, Stephanie (Law Office of Stephanie Ames)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

PM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Opening Statement	Peters, Theodore
00:14:53	Opening Statement	Ames, Stephanie
00:44:34	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Walker, Paul	In Person
01:22:47	Break
01:46:34	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Walker, Paul	In Person
02:25:08	End of Session

AM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

JUL

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Walker, Paul	In Person
00:33:37	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Walker, Paul	In Person
00:37:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Walker, Paul	In Person
01:04:32	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Walker, Paul	In Person
01:12:27	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Walker, Paul	In Person
01:18:40	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Bagby, Lawrence Jr.	In Person
01:38:08	Break
01:55:20	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Bagby, Lawrence Jr.	In Person
02:26:38	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Walker, Paul	In Person
00:36:01	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Walker, Paul	In Person
01:12:45	Break
01:42:43	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Walker, Paul	In Person
02:04:51	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Walker, Paul	In Person
02:09:09	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:06:47	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Bagby, Lawrence Jr.	In Person
01:13:17	Break
01:28:57	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Bagby, Lawrence Jr.	In Person
02:23:37	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Bagby, Lawrence Jr.	In Person
02:28:33	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cano, Diane	In Person
01:07:49	Break
01:28:02	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cano, Diane	In Person
02:24:57	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cano, Diane	In Person
00:28:48	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Cano, Diane	In Person
01:37:13	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Cano, Diane	In Person
00:07:57	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Cano, Diane	In Person
00:28:35	Break
00:30:52	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Cano, Diane	In Person
00:32:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cano, Diane	In Person
01:00:12	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Cano, Diane	In Person
01:05:35	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Cano, Diane	In Person
01:06:14	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cano, Diane	In Person
01:08:53	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Philipp, Jean	In Person
01:24:40	Break
01:47:43	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Philipp, Jean	In Person
02:25:23	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Philipp, Jean	In Person
00:56:51	Witness Cross Examination	Haas, Cheryl	Philipp, Jean	In Person
01:06:40	Witness Cross Examination	Peters, Theodore	Philipp, Jean	In Person
01:09:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Philipp, Jean	In Person
01:28:06	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Haas, Cheryl	Philipp, Jean	In Person
01:32:02	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Philipp, Jean	In Person
01:36:20	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
01:07:51	Break
01:32:04	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
01:57:04	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
02:23:10	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
01:08:24	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
01:38:14	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
01:42:40	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Ramirez, Christine	In Person
00:39:02	Break
01:02:06	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Gledhill, Brian	In Person
01:46:11	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Gledhill, Brian	In Person
01:49:16	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Gledhill, Brian	In Person
01:52:06	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Gledhill, Brian	In Person
01:53:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Gledhill, Brian	In Person
01:54:59	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cass, Diana	In Person
02:23:21	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Williams, Gregory	In Person
		01:43:09	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Williams, Gregory	In Person
01:05:25	Break
01:29:01	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Williams, Gregory	In Person
02:20:08	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Williams, Gregory	In Person
01:03:35	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Williams, Gregory	In Person
01:36:30	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Williams, Gregory	In Person
01:41:50	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Williams, Gregory	In Person
00:13:44	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Williams, Gregory	In Person
01:22:52	Break
01:46:21	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Williams, Gregory	In Person
02:03:04	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Williams, Gregory	In Person
02:05:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Williams, Gregory	In Person
02:21:17	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Davidson, James	Transcript Reading
00:45:15	Break
00:52:40	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Davidson, James	Transcript Reading
01:40:30	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:54:10	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:20:21	Break
01:46:02	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
02:33:09	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:21:13	Break
01:42:37	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
02:31:59	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:17:36	Break
01:31:37	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:51:18	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:52:40	Witness Cross Examination	Peters, Theodore	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:26:50	Break
01:48:58	Witness Cross Examination	Peters, Theodore	Russon, Tony	In Person
02:30:20	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:47:20	Break
01:01:23	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:21:03	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:11:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:00:01	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:05:06	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:13:54	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:01:00	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Peters, Theodore	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:06:41	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:17:08	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Peters, Theodore	Russon, Tony	In Person
00:18:11	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Brandt, Scott	In Person
01:00:18	Break
01:25:20	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Brandt, Scott	In Person
02:25:15	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Brandt, Scott	In Person
		01:46:27	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Brandt, Scott	In Person
00:27:36	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Brandt, Scott	In Person
01:15:53	Break
01:38:42	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Brandt, Scott	In Person
02:43:38	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Brandt, Scott	In Person
00:21:57	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Brandt, Scott	In Person
00:33:06	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Brandt, Scott	In Person
00:36:34	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cass, Diana	In Person
00:50:38	Witness Cross Examination	Haas, Cheryl	Cass, Diana	In Person
01:06:26	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Cass, Diana	In Person
01:11:29	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Cass, Diana	In Person
01:13:16	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Cass, Diana	In Person
01:17:48	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Cass, Diana	In Person
01:20:02	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Pomonik, Denise	In Person
01:47:26	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Pomonik, Denise	In Person
01:01:47	Break
01:17:55	Witness Direct Examination	Foley, Thomas	Pomonik, Denise	In Person
01:41:15	Witness Cross Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Pomonik, Denise	In Person
02:02:15	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Pomonik, Denise	In Person
02:32:37	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Pomonik, Denise	In Person
02:40:10	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Kurtz, Kathryn	Transcript Reading
00:08:23	Witness Cross Examination	Haas, Cheryl	Kurtz, Kathryn	Transcript Reading
00:12:54	General Case Activities
00:13:57	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Fago, James	In Person
01:36:19	General Case Activities	Foley, Thomas	Fago, James	In Person
01:41:07	General Case Activities	Ames, Stephanie	Fago, James	In Person
01:44:48	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Fago, James	In Person
01:52:52	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Fago, James	In Person
00:54:16	Break
01:11:47	Witness Cross Examination	Foley, Thomas	Fago, James	In Person
02:24:18	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Foley, Thomas	Fago, James	In Person
		01:48:34	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Foley, Thomas	Fago, James	In Person
00:29:42	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Fago, James	In Person
00:49:23	Break
01:11:27	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Fago, James	In Person
01:20:31	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Fago, James	In Person
01:36:51	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Fago, James	In Person
01:51:18	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Foley, Thomas	Fago, James	In Person
02:11:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Fago, James	In Person
02:14:28	Witness Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Davidson, James	Transcript Reading
02:32:19	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Brandt, Scott	In Person
00:52:47	Witness Cross Examination	Ames, Stephanie	Brandt, Scott	In Person
01:02:03	Break
01:41:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kanazawa, Sidney	Brandt, Scott	In Person
01:53:44	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Lowery, Elizabeth	Brandt, Scott	In Person
02:16:37	End of Session

AUG

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

AUG

AM Session

Closings

7 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

8 Chapters

AUG

AM Session

Closings

5 Chapters

AUG

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

AUG

AM Session

Openings - Damages

10 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

4 Chapters

AUG

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Harthshorne, et al. v. Metlife Inc., et al.

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:26:19	Opening Statement	Donahoo, Richard
01:21:59	Break
01:47:42	Opening Statement	Kanazawa, Sidney
02:22:27	Opening Statement	Peters, Theodore
02:41:01	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:44	Witness Direct Examination	Donahoo, Richard	Russon, Tony	In Person
01:18:33	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:51	Closing Statement	Donahoo, Richard
01:21:33	Break
01:45:43	Closing Statement	Donahoo, Richard
02:44:33	Break
02:46:57	Closing Statement	Kanazawa, Sidney
03:23:35	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:08:37	Reading of the Verdict
		01:14:17	General Case Activities
		01:15:44	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:09	General Case Activities	Donahoo, Richard
00:06:54	Opening Statement	Donahoo, Richard
00:28:39	Opening Statement	Kanazawa, Sidney
01:23:17	Break
01:42:02	Opening Statement	Kanazawa, Sidney
01:58:41	Opening Statement	Peters, Theodore
02:10:12	Opening Statement	Donahoo, Richard
02:18:34	General Case Activities
02:22:55	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:36	Reading of the Verdict
		00:06:00	General Case Activities
		00:10:12	End of Session