Miles, Sears & Eanni attorney Lyndsie Russell represented Sharon Vulich, Nicole Vulich Miller, and Crystal Vulich in a wrongful death action relating to a shooting that occurred in 2020.
Decedent Jerry Vulich had previously inherited his childhood home and farm following his mother’s death. His brother and defendant Norman Vulich had living rights to the home on the property, but resided in the old chicken barn on the property.
On the morning of October 23, 2020, Jerry Vulich arrived at the property to continue work on removing the grapevines to switch to almond trees. Norman Vulich was angry regarding the crop switch. Norman Vulich shot Jerry Vulich twice in the back with a shotgun, hid the body near a compost pile, and covered him with items from the farm. Law enforcement responded within thirty minutes and found Jerry Vulich’s body.
After a one-week trial, the jury awarded Jerry Vulich’s wife Sharon Vulich $529,447 for economic losses. The jury awarded Sharon Vulich and the two adult daughters, Nicole Vulich Miller and Crystal Vulich, $2,250,000 in non-economic damages. The jury additionally rendered a finding that Norman Vulich acted with malice, oppression, or fraud on October 23, 2020. Plaintiffs did not further pursue punitive damages.
To read the Fresno Bee’s coverage of the trial, please click here.
