Rada v. Hardin Irvine Automotive Inc. et al.

Personal injury

Los Angeles County

Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Moloney

Plaintiff’s lawyers: Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, Brian J. Panish, Andrew P. Owen, Matthew J. Stumpf

Defense lawyers: Schlichter & Shonack LLP, William A. Percy, Kurt A. Schlichter

Panish Shea & Boyle won more than $21.5 million for its client, a motorcyclist injured in a 2018 crash caused by a vehicle whose driver illegally exited a high-speed lane on the 405 Freeway.

Matthew Rada was traveling north on the freeway, when the other vehicle veered out of the lane and struck him. Rada then careened across three lanes of traffic, collided with a flatbed trailer and was then ejected off his motorcycle, landing on the freeway below.

Rada’s injuries were severe, including a fractured right femur, and required surgeries followed by inpatient rehabilitation, court documents say. Before the crash, he was a graphic designer at Schuberth North America.

The other vehicle, a Kia Optima, was owned by Hardin Irvine Automotive Inc. of Orange County.

On Rada’s behalf, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP filed suit in court against Hardin in March 2018 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

After a brief jury trial in December 2019, Rada was awarded roughly $3.5 million in economic damages and $18 million in noneconomic damages. Rada v. Hardin Irvine Automotive Inc. et al., BC696709 ( L.A. Sup. Ct. C.D Filed March 9, 2018).

Lead attorney Brian J. Panish argued that Rada had “suffered severely as a result of his injuries but his biggest loss was the intangible loss of his passion [for] art.”

Because Rada suffered a hand injury, “he could not draw and sketched as he had before.”

Panish said that his client still suffers daily from his physical injuries. “He practiced his whole life and studied in college, and continually excelled until that tragic day,” Panish added.

The defense, represented by Schlichter & Shonack LLP, argued that Rada recovered and should be able to get back to work. The firm did not respond to a request for comment.

“The jury understood the significance of the losses to Mr. Rada,” Panish said.

Panish and his attorneys presented evidence over a three-day period.

“The biggest surprise was both the speed of the trial itself, and how quickly the jury returned its verdict in less than two hours,” he added.

— Karen Weil