Dana Gambill v. Ford Motor Company
Published: Jun. 10, 2003 | Result Date: May 5, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC273552 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Charles Ted Mathews
(Mathews Law Group)
Defendant
Daniel S. Rodman
(Snell & Wilmer LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Ted Vavoulis
(technical)
Richard J. Hornick
(technical)
Lewis Collin Moore
(technical)
Defendant
Joseph P. Price
(technical)
Raphael Bell
(technical)
Elizabeth H. Raphael
(technical)
David J. Weiner M.B.A., AM
(technical)
Facts
On May 8, 2001, the plaintiff was exiting from her 1999 Ford Explorer sport when she struck her bare right ankle against the exposed end of the seat track for the driver's seat. The plaintiff claims she suffered a laceration and a nerve injury which ultimately developed into reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a chronic and debilitating pain syndrome. The RSD eventually spread to all of her extremities, causing the plaintiff to have a spinal stimulator surgically implanted in her back to help her manage her pain. The plaintiff, who was a wedding photographer prior to the incident, also claimed the injury diminished her ability to work at the same level as prior to the injury.
Settlement Discussions
Prior to trial, the plaintiff demanded $4.5 million plus payment of all future medical expenses. Ford offered $20,000 to settle before trial.
Specials in Evidence
$200,000 $500,000 in excess of $500,000
Other Information
Ford has submitted a memorandum of costs to recover approximately $75,000 in costs and experts' fees. The plaintiff has filed a motion to tax costs and a notice of intent to file a motion for new trial.
Deliberation
two hours
Poll
12-0 (defense verdict on all causes of action)
Length
seven days
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