Tinnin v. Western States Liquified Petroleum Co.

A lack of experience and negligence on the part of the defendant, Western States, resulted in the untimely death of a child and severe burning of the remainder of her family.

The Focal Point was asked to demonstrate to a jury how a Liquid Propane Gas System operates; what makes propane so volatile; and, due to its volatility, how propane gas systems require the highest standards of maintenance and care by licensed professionals.

The Focal Point created a two-part animation for the plaintiff's counsel. The first portion showed the jury how the Tinnin family's RV was configured—introducing each component of the system one by one (manifold, tubing, small gas tanks, regulator, and large tank) until the entire system was visible on the screen. The second animation illustrated the errors in installation and maintenance by Western States LP Company. Many of the key frames from this segment of the animation were memorialized on a large summary board for the jury to see continuously throughout different parts of the trial.

The jury awarded a $53 million verdict in favor of the Tinnin family. At the time, this was believed to be the largest jury verdict ever in Nevada.

Superior Court of Nevada, Elko County (Elko, NV)

Walkup, Melodia, Kelly, Wecht & Schoenberger (San Francisco)
John Echeverria