Jury Trial Verdicts
, / , / , / ,
Members Only Articles
, / , / , / ,
Editor’s Note: The monthly jury trial verdicts update is first published through Bar Code.
CIVIL/FAMILY
Texas Enterprises, Inc. v. Judy Akrim
Cause No.: C-1-CV-23-005403
Judge: Eric Shepperd
Dates: July 7, 2025
Attorneys:
Plaintiffs: Walter V. Williams, Thomas Williams McConnell, PLLC (Austin)
Defendant: Thomas E. Ross, (Houston)
Summary: Plaintiff claims Defendant was driving a vehicle on icy roads, which led her to hitting the gas pump located off the service road due to her negligence in Feb. 2023. The jury of five found that the defendant was negligent and found the reasonable cost to repair the gas pump to the condition it was in immediately before the occurrence: $28,299.15.
Thomas Bednorz v. Noah Daniel Sewell
Cause No.: D-1-GN-21-005284
Judge: Maya Guerra Gamble
Dates: July 7-10, 2025
Attorneys:
Plaintiff: John Abramowitz, Bonilla Law Firm, PLLC (Austin)
Defendants: Damon Garcia, Law Offices of Fanaff, Gonzales, Baldwin & Cunningham
Summary: On March 20, 2020, Plaintiff claims that Defendant’s vehicle caused him injury in a car accident due to negligence. A unanimous jury awarded the following damages: past physical pain and mental anguish – $26,500; future physical pain and mental anguish – $75,000; past disfigurement – $20,000; future disfigurement – $25,000; past physical impairment – $30,000; future physical impairment – $53,000; past medical care expenses – $87,1098.82 (agreed by the parties); and future medical care expenses – $200,000.
Amanda Rae Yates v. Alyssa Michelle Ybarra, Yuhosua Ryoo and Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Company
Cause No.: D-1-GN-18-007720
Judge: Maria Cantu Hexsel
Dates: July 8-11, 2025
Attorneys:
Plaintiff: John Abramowitz, Bonilla Law Firm, PLLC (Austin)
Defendants: Damon Garcia, Law Offices of Fanaff, Gonzales, Baldwin & Cunningham
Summary: Plaintiff claims that she was injured as a passenger in a golf cart owned by Austin ISD and operated by Alyssa Michelle Ybarra when a vehicle driven by Yuhosua Ryoo failed to yield the right-of-way in Austin High School parking lot on or about Dec. 2018. Plaintiff settled with Defendant Ryoo prior to the trial. The Court granted the motion to dismiss Defendant Ybarra with prejudice, but the claim against Farmers continued. A unanimous jury found Plaintiff Yates and Defendants Yuhosua Ryoo and Alyssa Michelle Ybarra negligent – Ryoo – 20 percent, Yates – 10 percent, and Ybarra – 70 percent. Damages awarded: past physical pain and mental anguish – $150,000; future physical pain and mental anguish – $75,000; past disfigurement – $20,000; future disfigurement – $25,000; past physical impairment – $30,000; future physical impairment – $53,000; past medical care expenses – $87,1098.82 (agreed by the parties) and future medical care expenses – $200,000.
Walter Schumacher v. City of Austin
Cause No.: D-1-GN-19-000544
Judge: Jessica Mangrum
Dates: July 21-23, 2025
Attorneys:
Plaintiff: Jack Holtzmann, Dow Law Firm, PLLC (Austin)
Defendants: Hannah Vahl, Isabel Calleja, City of Austin Law Department
Summary: Plaintiff claims he was injured due to an automobile accident with a City of Austin employee on Feb. 2017. A jury of 10 found the Defendant’s employee, Eric Gomez, was negligent. Damages awarded: past physical pain – $0; future physical pain – $0; past mental anguish – $0; future mental anguish – $0; past reasonable and necessary medical care – $69,044.05 and future medical care expenses – $706,995.59; past physical impairment – $0 and future physical impairment – $0. (Final judgment verdict reduced to $250,000 due to the Tort Claims Act limitations.)
In The Interest of A.R-B And M R-B., Children
Cause No.: D-1- FM-24-001890
Judge: Maya Guerra Gamble
Dates: July 21-24, 2025
Attorneys:
Petitioner/State of Texas: Bridget O’Shaughnessy
Children Attorney Ad Litem: Leslie Strauch, CRC (Austin)
Children Guardian Ad Litem: Casa
Mother, B.B Attorney: Elizabeth Schwartz
Father, E.R. Attorney: Lisa Mims
Summary: The State filed a petition to terminate the parental-child relationship. The State took possession of the children on March 11, 2024, alleging immediate danger to the physical health or safety of the children. Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney Ad Litem were appointed for the children and attorneys were appointed for both adults. The mother, B.B., requested a jury, and the father, E.R., waived a jury, and, therefore, all questions of fact and law were submitted to the Court only. A unanimous jury found by clear and convincing evidence that B.B. knowingly or willingly allowed conditions or surroundings that endangered the physical or emotional well-being of both children; the termination of the parent-child relationship between B.B. would be in the best interest of both children.
CRIMINAL
State of Texas v. Steven Ahlberg
Cause No.: D-1-DC-21-100003
Judge: Mike Denton
Dates: July 7-10, 2025
Attorneys:
State of Texas: Yasmeen Aboellhasan
Defendant: Charles Baird, Baird Law Firm PLLC (Austin)
Summary: Defendant was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by contact allegedly on or about Dec. 2017. The jury acquitted the defendant of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child/sexual contact.
State of Texas v. Quincy Punch
Cause No.: D-1-DC-24-904117
Judge: Jon Wisser
Dates: July 14-16, 2025
Attorneys:
State of Texas: Dominic Selvera
Defendant: Pro Se
Summary: Defendant was indicted for intentionally and knowingly threatening a person with imminent bodily harm and exhibiting a deadly weapon during the assault on or about March 2023. In addition, the defendant, a previously convicted felon for murder, was indicted for unlicensed possession of a firearm before the fifth anniversary of Defendant’s release. The jury found the defendant guilty of unlicensed possession of a firearm and sentenced to 10 years in prison and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 15 years in prison. (The sentences run concurrently.)
State of Texas v. Joshua Trezaaratti
Cause No.: D-1-DC-23-208343
Judge: Julie Kocurek
Dates: July 15-17, 2025
Attorneys:
State of Texas: Emily Scholten
Defendant: Amber Vazquez, Vazquez Law Firm (Austin)
Summary: Defendant was indicted for knowingly causing the death of a person with a firearm on or about Oct. 2023. The jury found the defendant guilty of murder and sentenced him to 18 years in prison, although they did not find that he was under the immediate influence of sudden passion.
State of Texas v. David Jonathon Hardman
Cause No.: C-1-CR-24-500502 Judge: Carlos Barrera
Dates: July 22, 202
Attorneys:
State of Texas: Jonathan Ramirez
Defendant: Joseph Aragon, Aragon Law Firm (Austin)
Summary: Defendant was charged with assault family violence, which allegedly occurred on or about March 2, 2024. The jury found the defendant not guilty of assault family violence.
State of Texas v. Vincente Munoz-Guerrero
Cause No.: D-1-DC-23-302169 Judge: David Wahlberg
Dates: July 22-25, 2025
Attorneys:
State of Texas: Yasmeen Aboellhasan
Defendant: Charles Baird, Baird Law Firm PLLC (Austin)
Summary: Defendant was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by contact, allegedly on or about April 2023. The jury acquitted the defendant of continued sexual assault of a minor child and indecency with a child, but were not able to reach a verdict on aggravated sexual assault, penetration by sexual organ, and aggravated sexual assault, penetration by finger.