The Case

• Case Name: Leah Hickey v. Rebecca Harrington
• Court and Case Number: San Francisco Superior Court / CGC-23-606326
• Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, December 08, 2025
• Date Action was Filed: Friday, May 05, 2023
• Type of Case: Bicycle Accident, Negligence, Vehicles - Left Turn
• Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Victor M. Hwang
• Plaintiffs:
  Leah Hickey, 49
• Defendants:
  Rebecca Harrington
• Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

• Gross Verdict or Award: $12,102,869
• Net Verdict or Award: $8,472,008.30
• Contributory/Comparative Negligence: 30% to plaintiff
• Trial or Arbitration Time: 3 weeks
• Jury Deliberation Time: 3 1/2 days

The Attorneys

• Attorney for the Plaintiff:

  Bay Area Bicycle Law, P.C. by Michael Olaf Stephenson, Blake Bostwick and Lucy Allen, Oakland.

• Attorney for the Defendant:

  McNamara Ambacher Wheeler Hirsig & Gray by Wilma Gray and Sarah I. Pama, Pleasant Hill.

  Clyde & Co US LLP by Alison K. Beanum, Los Angeles.

The Experts

• Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):

  Murray Solomon, M.D., neuroradiology.

  Santi Rao, M.D., orthopedics/neurosurgery.

• Defendant's Medical Expert(s):
• David Seidenwurm, M.D., neuroradiology.
• Rayshad Oshtory, M.D., spine surgery.
• Miranda Van Horn, life care planning.
• Shelley Perry, Ph.D., neuropsychology.
• Bruce Adornato, M.D., neurology.
• Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):

  Zdravko Salipur, Ph.D., biomechanics/accident reconstruction.

  Maria Brady, vocational rehabilitation.

  Phillip Allman, Ph.D., economics. 

• Defendant's Technical Expert(s):

  Carla Huff Kelley, MRC, CRC, CDMS, vocational rehabilitation.

  Karl Erik Volk, M.A., economics.

Facts and Background

• Facts and Background: Defendant initiated a 3-point turn directly into plaintiff cyclist's path of travel by making a left turn across the bicycle lane, then stopping in the bicycle lane. Defendant stated that she did not see plaintiff. The incident occurred on city streets in downtown San Francisco.
• Plaintiff broadsided the stopped vehicle while going 5-10 mph. She remained upright and never fell to the ground or lost her balance. This was a whiplash injury, with no clear head strike (she testified that she did NOT hit her head, although it's possible she may have and just not remembered, which is what was argued in closing). No loss of consciousness. Plaintiff rode the rest of the way to work and didn't go to the ER for a few hours. 
• Plaintiff's Contentions: Defendant was negligent in making an unsafe turn and blocking the bicycle lane, which injured plaintiff's brain and neck permanently.
• Defendant's Contentions: Plaintiff herself was negligent and was not injured in the incident. Any issues that she suffered were preexisting.

Injuries and Other Damages

• Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff: Brain injury. Neck injury.
• Aside from the DTI findings of Dr. Solomon, there were no findings on brain CT/MRI. No deficiencies noted on any neuropsychological testing. Notable pre-existing conditions included ADHD, depression, PMDD, anxiety, and photophobia; pre-existing neck pain and headaches and degenerative changes to her C-spine. Plaintiff's issues were exacerbated to the point that she could no longer work as a nurse and her disability claim had been denied.
• Lost wages. Loss of future earnings.

Demands and Offers

• Plaintiff §998 Demand: $1,000,000 in July 2024, and another for $5,000,000 in October 2025
• Defendant §998 Offer: $750,000 in October 2025
• Defendant Final Offer before Trial: $75,000
• Defendant Offer during Trial: $750,000