Carranza v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Published: Jul. 8, 2003 | Result Date: Apr. 11, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: GC029002 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Alhambra
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Sean M. Novak
(The Novak Law Firm PC)
Thomas J. Griffin
(Nelson Griffin LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Antoine Roberts
(medical)
Lewis Collin Moore
(technical)
Ned B. Einstein
(technical)
Defendant
Kevin M. Ehrhart M.D.
(medical)
Steven J. Walsh
(technical)
Facts
The plaintiff was a passenger on a bus owned and operated by the defendant Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). On July 25, 2001 at approximately 11:40 a.m., the plaintiff claimed that the bus driver, the defendant Mark Holland, accelerated/decelerated, causing the bus to jerk and knock the plaintiff's feet out from under him. The plaintiff fell on his back while walking to his seat. The defendant bus operator was adamant that the plaintiff suddenly jumped on the ground while the bus was barely moving after he took his foot off the brake. He then applied the brakes to stop the bus.
Settlement Discussions
At a mandatory settlement conference, the defendants offered a waiver of costs. The plaintiff consistently demanded $100,000 up until trial. The defendant submitted a statutory offer to compromise in the amount of $9,999.
Specials in Evidence
$32,000 $12,000
Injuries
The plaintiff contended an extreme exacerbation of his pre-existing neck, back, right hip, left heal, ankle, right arm numbness, headaches, sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety. The plaintiff treated with a chiropractor and an orthopedist. Epidural injections were ineffective. Surgical intervention was a possibility.
Other Information
The defendant's memorandum of costs of $22,923 is pending.
Deliberation
one hour and 45 minutes
Poll
12-0 (liability)
Length
five days
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