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Personal Injury
Auto v. Auto
Rear-End Collision

Mark Spangrud v. Jon Holmblad

Published: Sep. 5, 1998 | Result Date: Jun. 30, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 773539 Arbitration –  $89,465

Judge

William Sheffield

Court

Orange Superior


Attorneys

Claimant

Dieter Zacher


Respondent

Dawn Marie Lee


Experts

Plaintiff

Frank Sorrentino
(medical)

Claimant

Alana Szany
(medical)

Defendant

Richard Beaudreu
(medical)

Peter M. Burkhard
(technical)

Respondent

Robert A. Baird
(medical)

Facts

On Jan. 28, 1996, plaintiff Mark Spangrud, a 42-year-old project controls manager, was operating his 1992 GMC minivan eastbound on Garfield in the No. 1 lane when he came to a complete stop for a red light at the intersection of Gothard and Garfield in Huntington Beach. There was a large truck to the left of his vehicle. Defendant Jon Holmblad was operating his 1990 Isuzu Trooper and was approaching the plaintiff's vehicle from the rear in the same lane. As the light turned green, the plaintiff started moving but stopped to avoid hitting a bicyclist riding southbound on Gothard. Both the plaintiff and the bicyclist safely came to a stop without colliding. The defendant, however, failed to stop and rear-ended the plaintiff at either plaintiff's estimated speed of 20-25 mph (per plaintiff) or the defendants estimate of less than 10 mph. While the damage to the plaintiff's vehicle was minimal, the force of the impact damaged the rear bumper of the car. The property damage to the plaintiff's vehicle was $1,215.06. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendant based on negligence. The defendant admitted liability.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand for $100,000. The defendant made a C.C.P. º998 offer of compromise for $7,501.

Specials in Evidence

$7,402 $5,169.23 $17,721.60 $25,000

Injuries

The plaintiff alleged soft tissue neck and back injuries, a 6 millimeter lumbar disc bulge and a broken tooth.

Other Information

The award was reached approximately one year and six months after the case was filed. ARBITRATION: An arbitration held before Andrew O. Feringa resulted in an award of $23,950.61. The defendant requested a trial de novo.


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