Extent of injuries disputed after rear-ender at traffic light. $197K. Los Angeles County.

Summary

$100K policy is opened up when defendant argues extent of injury after rear-ender.

Gross Verdict or Award: $197,394.79
Net Verdict or Award: $274,812.85
Award as to each Defendant:
$15,000 as to Terilyn Rawson

$197,394.79 as to Beau Thetford
Contributory/Comparative Negligence: None.
Economic Damages:
Past medical expenses: $32,071.61

Prejudgment interest: $323.18

Future Medical expenses: $95,000
Non-Economic Damages:
Past pain & suffering: $50,000

Future pain & suffering: $20,000
Trial or Arbitration Time: 7 days.
Jury Deliberation Time: 1 day.
Jury Polls: 10-2
Post Trial Motions & Post-Verdict Settlements: None.

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Kuzyk Law, LLP by Mark J. Leonardo, Lancaster.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Paul F. Sullivan & Associates by Brian P. Neill, Sherman Oaks.

Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):
Catalino D. Dureza, M.D., neurosurgery, Los Angeles.

Andrew S. Morris, D.C., medical billing, Torrance.

Ray H. Hashemi, M.D., radiology, Lancaster.
Defendant's Medical Expert(s):
Robert M. Wilson, M.D., orthopedic surgery, Beverly Hills.

Jay S. Tsuruda, M.D., radiology, Pasadena.

Facts and Background:
On June 16, 2015, a sunny, clear, dry and warm day, at approximately 5 p.m., plaintiff, age 24 at the time, was operating a company car owned by his employer, Hertz Rent-a-Car, a 2014 Ford Focus, and was returning back to his office in Thousand Oaks from LAX.

Plaintiff was stopped in the #1 lane on Pacific Coast Highway at the light at Sunset Boulevard when he was rear-ended by defendant Thetford, who was driving the Jeep owned by his mother, defendant Rawson.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That defendant driver was negligent in the operation of his vehicle, resulting in personal injuries to plaintiff.
Defendant's Contentions:
Defendant admitted liability but disputed the causation, nature and extent of plaintiff's injuries.

While defendants' expert admitted that plaintiff suffered soft-tissue injuries, counsel argued that plaintiff suffered no injuries in closing argument and that all claimed injuries were a result of age (age 24) degeneration.

Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Plaintiff claimed he suffered neck pain with radiculopathy down his arms, low back pain with radiculopathy down both legs, sciatica down his legs, hot feet, numbness and tingling, and incontinence for a period of time.

With interest, costs and expert fees added to the judgment Defendants paid $274,812.85 to satisfy the judgment.