DEFENSE COMMENT MAGAZINE 

Trials & Tribulations Submission Form 

Date of Submission: 10/31/18 
Contact Person for Submission: Bobby Dale Sims, Jr. 
Trial Counsel Name(s) & Law Firm:  
Plaintiff’s Counsel: Therese Y. Cannata & Mark P. Fickes – Cannata O’Toole Fickes & Olson 
Defense Counsel: Bobby Dale Sims, Jr. – Sims, Lawrence & Arruti; 
and Scott M. Hutchison, Law Office of Matthew G. Salazar
County/District and Trial Judge Name: Butte County –Presiding Judge Tamara Mosbarger 
Case Name (Optional): Bessolo v. R&R Horn, Inc. 

Description of Trial

It was alleged that a General Engineering Contractor destabilized property resulting in an active landslide.  The Contractor was hired by Butte County to remove unpermitted culverts and provide erosion controls after plaintiff installed unpermitted culverts in a seasonal creek. The location of the site was next to Butte Creek and the plaintiff’s work allegedly endangered Chinook salmon spawning beds near Chico, California. 

Plaintiff’s complaint plead one cause of action for Private Nuisance. Plaintiff’s counsel argued that the contractor either created the condition that caused the landslide or did not ascertain that the condition existed and warn the landowner.

We argued, with the help of expert, Tom Blackburn of Blackburn Consulting, that there was no landslide.  Mr. Blackburn was well received by the Jury and explained that the conditions were a combination of settling and erosion.

Settlement Discussions

Prior to trial, the lowest demand was $985,000 and the highest offer was a CCP § 998 for $50,001.  During closing, plaintiff’s counsel asked the Jury to award between $900,000 and $1.6 million. Mr. Sims requested a defense verdict. Alternatively, he asked that if the Jury found fault that they apportion most of the liability to others. 

The Verdict

The Jury returned a defense verdict after deliberating for four hours.