Shook Obtains Significant Defense Verdict for Global Companies

A Shook trial team obtained a defense verdict for The Clorox Company and Walmart in a case where the plaintiff sued for negligence and strict product liability and sought $43 million in damages. The jury deliberated for a day and a half before returning the full defense verdict after a two-week trial.

Shook trial partners on the team securing the full defense verdict included Annie Chuang and Lindsey Heinz. 

The Daily Journal selected the win among its monthly Top Verdicts list in California in 2024. 

On October 30, 2025, a California Court of Appeal affirmed the verdict, rejecting the plaintiff's request to appeal the case over her objections that a juror had bias against her because he owned Walmart stock. 

Law360 wrote about the appeal decision in “Calif. Panel Won’t Nix Walmart Verdict Over Juror’s Stocks.”

The case is Hernandez v. The Clorox Company Chemical Co., No. 21ST-18579 (Cal. Super. Ct., Los Angeles County, 2024), and Hernandez v. Walmart Inc., No. 342154 (Cal. Ct. App, 2nd Dist., October 30, 2025).