Verdicts & Settlements

Benavides v. Tesla — Autopilot Wrongful Death

Brett served as lead trial counsel in the first wrongful death case against Tesla to proceed to trial. Naibel Benavides Leon was killed and Dillon Angulo was gravely injured when a Tesla operating on Autopilot failed to respond appropriately to road conditions outside the system's design parameters. The jury found that Tesla engineered Autopilot exclusively for controlled-access highways but deliberately chose not to restrict its use elsewhere — creating a dangerous false sense of safety. A Miami federal jury returned a unanimous $243 million verdict, upheld in full by a federal judge in February 2026. Widely reported as one of the largest individual-plaintiff verdicts in the history of the American civil justice system.

Polaris RZR Rollover — Manufacturing Defect

Brett secured a seven-figure confidential settlement in a product liability matter involving a Polaris RZR off-road vehicle. The case alleged that a manufacturing defect caused the vehicle to overturn, resulting in traumatic and permanent hand injuries to the client. The outcome established liability in a complex product defect case against a major manufacturer.

Systemic Medical Malpractice — Unnecessary Joint Replacement Surgeries

One medical malpractice case led to the discovery of dozens of patients who suffered needless and unindicated joint-replacement surgeries at the hands of a surgeon and hospital system that prioritized profits over patient safety. The case exposed systemic misconduct and resulted in a $30 million settlement — holding the institution accountable for a pattern of harm that went far beyond any single patient.

Kaiser Permanente — Nerve Damage During Routine Blood Draw

Brett and co-counsel secured a $3 million settlement against Kaiser Permanente after a client suffered permanent nerve damage during a routine blood draw. A needle was negligently inserted and struck the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve, causing lasting impairment that ended the client's ability to perform surgical procedures. The settlement reflects the principle that even routine medical care must be performed with care — and that life-altering negligence demands full accountability.

Dangerous Condition of Public Property — State of California

Clients suffered the devastating loss of loved ones and catastrophic personal injuries due to a dangerous condition of public property. Brett's team first collected $5 million in insurance policy limits from the adverse driver, then proceeded to trial against the State of California. The $23.5 million verdict was one of the Top 100 civil verdicts in America and a Top 10 verdict in California.

Dangerous Roadway — Falling Tree Branch, State Route 79

The client was operating a motorcycle on northbound State Route 79 near Warner Springs in San Diego County when a large tree branch detached and fell from a tree within the State's right of way. She sued the State of California and the Department of Transportation, who owned and maintained the roadway and the tree. Her injuries included a brain bleed, a burst spinal vertebra, multiple spinal fractures from C2 to C8, and a shattered femur.

Dangerous Roadway — Head-On Collision, Centerline Failure

The client was traveling to work along a rural two-lane road when a vehicle came across the centerline and the two cars collided head-on. This preventable collision was caused by the State of California's failure to properly maintain the edge of the pavement — a dangerous condition that created a trap for drivers. The $5.6 million verdict ranked among the Top 50 personal injury verdicts in California and Top 100 motor vehicle verdicts in America.

Construction Gas Explosion — Downtown San Diego

The client was providing construction-related services in a downtown San Diego building when the defendant failed to provide properly odorized natural gas to the building. An improperly odorized gas accumulated undetected and created a massive explosion, presumably ignited by an electrical spark. The client suffered third-degree burns to his face, head, arms, hands, and upper body.

Contact Brett Schreiber

These results represent real people who refused to be ignored. If you've been seriously injured, your story deserves the same fight.

Brett Schreiber takes personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases on a contingency fee basis — no upfront costs, no fees unless he wins. Contact his office for a free, confidential case evaluation.

Call: (619) 393-3881