Defense Verdict in Admitted Liability Rear-End Accident Case
In February, 2017, John Farmer obtained a defense verdict in the Long Beach branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court, on behalf of a defendant driver of a trailing vehicle in a three car collision which occurred on the I-5 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. While the impact was relatively modest (14-15 MPH ΔV), plaintiff contended he suffered a significant back injury which necessitated extensive chiropractic treatment, multiple epidural injections and a surgical recommendation for a two level lumbar microdisketomy. The claimed medical specials were $58,472, with future claimed medicals of $80,000. Defense experts contested causation as well as the reasonability and necessity of the lien-based medical care received. The jury was provided impeachment evidence in the form of video surveillance footage inconsistent with plaintiff’s injury claims. Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award $153,742. The defense had offered $11,424 pursuant to CCP §998. The result was a defense verdict based on a finding of no causation.