Venue: Napa County
Verdict/Result: Settlement for nuisance value
at trial
Case Name: Stanley v. County of Napa, Franciscan
Vineyards
Description: Plaintiff, an attorney, sustained
major head and other injuries when he fell from his bicycle after it hit a culvert
at the intersection of a county road and the driveway to our client's winery.
Plaintiff claimed that the culvert was covered in leaves making it impossible
to discern and claimed negligence in the ownership and maintenance of the culvert.
The county maintained and owned the property on which the culvert was built by
a prior owner of the vineyard property and with the county's approval. Most
causes of action against the winery were eliminated by summary adjudication on
the grounds of (1) implied assumption of the risk and (2) property owner immunity
under Civil Code 846. The remaining cause of action was settled just before trial,
with the majority contribution by the county, for nuisance value.
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