Facts

On Oct. 27, 2008, plaintiffs Christopher Clark and Alexandra Mendez Clark were rear-ended by defendant Robert Sonnenblick as they were stopped on Allenford just north of San Vicente at the border between Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs claimed that as a result of the accident Christopher underwent multiple surgeries to attempt to alleviate the severe pain which he was still experiencing at the time of the mediation. Christopher had participated in athletic endeavors shortly before the accident and after his 2006 back pain and MRI.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant claimed that this was a minor accident, which could not have caused Christopher's back problems. Christopher's medical bills would be reduced to reflect the amounts that the medical providers had accepted reducing them to approximately $100,000.

Specials in Evidence

$438,829 for Christopher Clark; $2,875 for Alexandra Mendez Clark

Damages

$6,885 for plaintiffs' BMW repair

Injuries

Christopher Clark, 36, suffered a severe and debilitating lower back injury. He initially received conservative care and after two unsuccessful epidurals with Dr. Timothy Davis, he underwent a lumbar laminectomy with facetectomies, with the insertion of pedicle screws at L5-S1 and a fusion by Dr. Kropf. He then underwent a second surgery with Dr. Kropf, which included an anterior diskectomy and decompression. After another epidural, he underwent a third surgery. Although he had back pain in 2006, he was in good health prior to the Oct. 27, 2008 accident. Alexandra Clark, 29, suffered injuries to her neck, right knee and left arm. After initially being advised to rest by her physician father, she was treated by Dr. Phillip Kanter and Westside Physical Therapy. She made a good recovery, however at the time of the mediation she was experiencing occasional knee pain.

Result

The case was settled for $1,110,000 ($1.1 million for Christopher Clark; $10,000 for Alexandra Mendez Clark).

Other Information

FILING DATE: Aug. 13, 2010.