This Week's Most Notable Personal Injury Stories
Happy Friday! ?? Welcome to this week's edition of Enjuris Briefs. Our team of dedicated attorney editors has hand-selected the most notable—and notably amusing—personal injury stories from the past week.
Top Legal Stories
Georgia Woman Sues After Giving Birth to Another Couple’s Child in IVF Mix-Up
A Georgia woman is suing a South Carolina fertility clinic after an IVF mix-up resulted in her carrying and giving birth to another couple’s child—only to lose custody months later. Krystena Murray, 38, had sought in vitro fertilization through Coastal Fertility Specialists, but after delivering in December 2023, she immediately suspected something was wrong. The baby did not resemble her or the sperm donor she had selected. A home DNA test confirmed her fears: the child was not biologically hers.
Despite bonding with the baby for months, Murray ultimately lost custody in May 2024 after the biological parents sued for their child. The clinic, which called the mistake an “unprecedented error,” has apologized but claims Murray’s own embryos remain available for future use. She, however, has no intention of returning to Coastal Fertility. “I have started to continue my journey with another clinic,” she said. The lawsuit highlights the legal gray areas surrounding IVF mix-ups, which, while rare, can have devastating consequences for everyone involved.
Read the lawsuit here.?
Ford Hit With $2.5 Billion (That’s Billion With a B) Verdict Over Fatal Crash
A Georgia jury has handed Ford Motor Company a record-shattering $2.5 billion verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit, holding the automaker mostly responsible for the deaths of a couple killed in a 2022 rollover crash. The case centered on allegations that Ford’s Super Duty truck roofs were dangerously weak and prone to collapse—a defect the plaintiffs claimed the company knew about for years but failed to fix.
The jury found Ford 85% responsible for the deaths of Herman and Debra Mills, awarding $30.5 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $2.5 billion in punitive damages. The verdict, one of the largest in U.S. history, comes just weeks after another Georgia jury hit Ford with a $1.7 billion award in a similar roof collapse case. Ford, which has vowed to appeal, argues that the damages are excessive and that the crash was caused by a medical event rather than a design flaw.
The case has reignited debate over whether Georgia should cap punitive damages. While business groups argue that massive verdicts drive up costs and encourage frivolous litigation, critics say caps would weaken corporate accountability—especially when companies allegedly put profits over safety.
Nicolas Cage and Son Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Over Alleged “Life-Threatening” Attack
Nicolas Cage and his son, Weston, are facing a lawsuit from Cage’s ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, who claims Weston violently attacked her in April 2024, leaving her with severe injuries. Fulton, 57, alleges that her 34-year-old son—a “300-pound professional fighter”—assaulted her in a parking lot, elevator, and lobby after she responded to urgent messages from his friends. She is suing Weston for assault and battery and Nicolas Cage for negligence, arguing that he enabled their son’s violent behavior by bailing him out of jail and providing financial support.
Weston was arrested in June and charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, to which he pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Cage’s legal team dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous” and “absurd,” stating that the actor bears no responsibility for his adult son’s actions. Fulton’s attorney contends that this case is unique, as Cage allegedly knew about Weston’s history of violence and mental health struggles yet failed to intervene.
Jay-Z Calls Dismissed Lawsuit a "Victory" After Plaintiff Withdraws Case
A lawsuit accusing Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2000 has been voluntarily dismissed, according to a court filing submitted in New York. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, withdrew the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled in its current form.
Jay-Z, who has strongly denied the allegations from the start, called the dismissal a "victory," stating that the lawsuit was "frivolous" and "fictitious." His attorney, Alex Spiro, emphasized that Jay-Z never settled, never paid anything, and successfully cleared his name. The lawsuit, initially filed against Combs in October and expanded to include Jay-Z in December, came under scrutiny after Jane Doe admitted in an interview that "not all the facts are clear" and that she may have misidentified someone.
Meanwhile, Diddy remains entangled in legal battles, facing over three dozen civil suits and federal criminal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking. He has been denied bail three times and will remain in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his trial in May 2025. His legal team insists the allegations against him are baseless, calling the dismissed case "just the first of many that will not hold up in a court of law."
Family of Connecticut Man Killed in American Airlines-Black Hawk Crash Files $250M Claim
The family of a Connecticut man killed in the January 29 midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River has filed a $250 million claim against the federal government. The legal filing, a required step under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), alleges that FAA and Army personnel acted negligently, leading to the fatal crash that killed all 67 people aboard the plane.
Attorney Robert Clifford, representing the family of Casey Crafton, 40, says the government has six months to respond before a lawsuit can be filed in federal court. The law firm has also requested that American Airlines, Sikorsky Aircraft, and Collins Aerospace preserve all evidence related to the crash. Meanwhile, an NTSB investigation is ongoing, with early reports suggesting that air traffic control staffing was “not normal” at the time of the collision and that communication lapses may have played a role.
Delta Offers $30,000 to Passengers of Flight That Crashed, Flipped Upside Down
Delta Air Lines is offering $30,000 to each passenger who was aboard Flight 4819, which crash-landed and flipped upside down while attempting to land in Toronto on Monday. The aircraft, carrying 76 passengers and four crew members, ended up belly-up with its right wing sheared off. Miraculously, all 80 people survived, though 21 were taken to hospitals—most with minor injuries.
Delta says the payment comes with “no strings attached” and does not waive passengers’ legal rights. However, some passengers have already retained a Canadian law firm, suggesting lawsuits may be on the horizon. Under international treaties, airlines must make advance payments to cover immediate economic needs after an accident, but accepting such payments doesn’t prevent passengers from seeking additional compensation. Similar payouts have been made in past crashes, often followed by lawsuits and settlements.
Amusing Legal Story
California Bar Exam Chaos: Full Refunds Offered After Testing Debacle
With just days until the exam, the State Bar is offering full refunds to all 5,600 applicants—an unprecedented move following scheduling nightmares, broken practice exams, and miscommunications with its testing partner, Meazure Learning.
While the Bar’s attempt to modernize the exam was meant to cut costs and improve accessibility, the rushed rollout led to frustration, confusion, and a projected budget overrun. Applicants who withdraw will receive an $830 refund (minus bank fees, of course), but many test-takers don’t have the luxury of postponing, leaving them to navigate last-minute rule changes and additional practice questions in hopes of salvaging their exam experience.?
Quote of the Week
“I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow.” - Judge Jeffrey Ferguson?
A California judge is on trial for the fatal shooting of his wife—a killing he admitted to multiple times, including in a text message to court staff. Judge Jeffrey Ferguson of the Orange County Superior Court allegedly shot his wife, Sheryl, in August 2023 while they were watching Breaking Bad and arguing about finances. Their adult son was present during the incident.
Shortly after the shooting, Ferguson texted his clerk and bailiff: “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.” Jurors also saw footage of Ferguson alone in an interrogation room, where he muttered, “I killed her. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, convict my ass. I did it.” In the back of a police car, he was recorded saying, “I killed my wife. F- - -. Ugh, s- - -.”
Ferguson’s blood alcohol level at the police station was 0.065, but prosecutors argue it was likely much higher—around 0.17—when he pulled the trigger. His defense claims the shooting was an accident, but prosecutors are pursuing a second-degree murder conviction. It remains unclear whether jurors will have the option of considering a manslaughter charge.
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