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Evidence

Mar. 13, 2026

When 'bad plaintiff' tactics blow up: The cautionary tale of character evidence

Argueta v. Worldwide Flight Services demonstrates how portraying a plaintiff as "bad" through character evidence can undermine a trial and lead courts to overturn verdicts

Leonid M. Zilberman

Partner
Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP

Phone: (619) 236-9600

Email: lzilberman@wilsonturnerkosmo.com

Lonny practices employment law, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as mediation and alternative dispute resolution and provides anti-harassment and other employment-related training to California Employers.

See more...

When 'bad plaintiff' tactics blow up: The cautionary tale of character evidence
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A few weeks ago, after giving their opening statements in downtown Los Angeles, the parties in Argueta v. Worldwide Flight Services, Inc., decided to settle their case for almost $4 million. This was the second trial of the case, because after a defense verdict the first time around, plaintiff appealed and had the verdict overturned in a published decision from December 2023 (Argueta v. Worl...

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