Facts

Roney Coffman filed suit against the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department in relation to a collision between Coffman's vehicle and a patrol vehicle driven by a Sheriff's Department sergeant. The sergeant was responding to a code 3 emergency at the time of the collision.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that the sergeant still had a duty to drive safely and did not do so in this instance. Plaintiff claimed that the collision caused him to suffer injuries and damages, and sought to hold defendants liable.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: Defendants disputed the allegations of wrongdoing. Defendants contended they were not liable because the patrol vehicle was responding to a bona fide emergency with lights and siren on and that the sergeant drove with due regard for the safety of others considering the emergency circumstances.

Injuries

Plaintiff alleged injuries to his neck and knee requiring an epidural injection and a meniscectomy. Defendants contended that plaintiff's injuries were pre-existing and not caused by the collision.

Result

The parties reached a settlement, in which defendants agreed to pay $95,000 to settle plaintiff's claims.