Lennig et al. v. CRST Inc. et al.

Los Angeles County

Superior Court Judge J. Stephen Czuleger

$52.7 million

Plaintiffs' Lawyers: R. Rex Parris, Bruce L. Schechter, Khail A. Parris, Parris Law Firm; Brian J. Panish, Matthew J. Stumpf, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP

Defense Lawyers: Fred M. Blum, Michael E. Gallagher Jr., Bassi Edlin Huie & Blum LLP

Brothers Matthew and Michael Lennig were headed to their annual Mammoth Lake fishing trip when their vehicle was struck in a State Route 14 construction zone by a freight truck owned by CRST Inc.

The Lennigs were injured in the July 2014 collision and they also alleged that the accident severely damaged their vehicle. They sued the truck's driver, Hector Contreras, and his employer, CRST, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based freight company.

Matthew Lennig, who was driving, suffered injuries to his head and left arm, which was partially severed and required several operations to reattach it. Michael Lennig, a deputy sheriff, had back and head injuries.

The Lennigs alleged Contreras was negligent in operating the vehicle and CRST was liable for Contreras' actions beause he was on the job. Lennig et al. v. CRST Inc. et al., MC025288 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Mar. 06, 2015).

Prior to the trial, defendant Contreras and the CRST entities stipulated to liability and vicarious liability. Thus, the jury only needed to decide how much in compensatory damages to award the plaintiffs and whether punitive damages were warranted.

The Lennigs retained attorney Brian J. Panish, a founding partner of Panish, Shea & Boyle LLP, who tried the case along with R. Rex Parris of Parris Law Firm.

His clients' lives changed after the accident, Panish said.

"We showed Michael had been a motorcycle officer, which was his dream, and he had to go back to a desk job," Panish said.

In February, a Los Angeles County jury awarded $52.7 million, including $19.24 million for Michael Lennig and $33.465 million for Matthew Lennig.

"We were happy with the verdict," Panish said. "The case settled and we believe they can get the medical care they needed, adjust their life and have a better quality of life with the treatment that they need."

A Panish Shea & Boyle LLP spokesperson noted that during the case and before the verdict, the parties entered a stipulation related to past medical damages totaling $1,037,000 for both plaintiffs. That amount did not appear on the verdict form for the jury.

"There was no doubt of the injuries and we also admitted liability," said Fred M. Blum, one of the defense attorneys at Bassi, Edlin, Huie & Blum LLP. "There was contention over punitive damages, and also significant contention over the future medical care the Lennigs received."

The lawsuit settled on confidential terms after the trial, according to the plaintiffs' lawyers.

-- Sean Kagan