Ralph Shulte v. Frederick Lee Humeston, Mari Huggins
Published: Dec. 28, 2004 | Result Date: Feb. 20, 2004 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 329132 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
Stanislaus Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Kevin Piekut
(Law Office of Kevin Piekut)
Facts
In March 2002, plaintiff Ralph Shulte was driving a Corvette north on Coffee Lane in Modesto. Defendant Frederick Humeston was driving a pickup truck south on Coffee Lane in the slow lane. In the fast lane was defendant Mari Huggins. Humeston changed into the fast lane. Huggins lost control of her car while trying to avoid Humeston. She hit plaintiff's car head-on.
Specials in Evidence
$23,000 $40,000
Damages
Plaintiff claimed medical bills of $23,000 and wage losses of $40,000.
Injuries
The plaintiff suffered a cut above his left eye, left eye droopiness, neck pain traveling into the left arm and headaches.
Result
The trial was bifurcated and proceeded on liability. Huggins settled before trial for her policy limits of $15,000. The jury found that Humeston was not negligent. This thereby opened up plaintiff's significant underinsured motorist coverage, which had been denied given the alleged actions of Humeston.
Deliberation
five hours
Poll
9-3
Length
four days
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