Confidential
Settlement – $1,000,000Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Steven V. Angarella
(Angarella Law)
Defendant
Kenneth S. Perri
(Gordon & Rees LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
William Schultheis
(technical)
Defendant
William Crookschanks
(technical)
Facts
On Mar. 12, 2000, the plaintiff and her two young children were the tenants of an apartment owned by the
defendant. The plaintiff heated a bottle of milk for her infant child in a pot on the stove. The plaintiff then
forgot about it and, together with her two children, fell asleep in the bedroom that was adjacent to the kitchen.
The pot overheated and started a fire in the kitchen. The plaintiff and her children were rescued by the fire
department and all three suffered smoke inhalation injuries.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiffs made a C.C.P. Section 998 offer to settle at $1 million, being the defendant's policy limit.
Specials in Evidence
The plaintiffs' reported past medical specials were in excess of $550,000. Also, the plaintiff, and possibly the children, ages 10 months and five years old, faced significant future medical expenses from lung damage and possible neurological damage arising from the severe smoke inhalation.
Injuries
Smoke inhalation injuries to all three plaintiffs.
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