Facts

On Nov. 18, 2016, at 5:55 p.m., plaintiff Brenn Queja was driving his gray 2005 Acura eastbound on Calle Chapos, in Temecula, which featured a stop sign. Defendant Joe Robbins was driving in his silver 2013 Nissan Altima, southbound on Butterfield Stage Road, which also featured a stop sign. After stopping at the stop sign, plaintiff Queja began to accelerate into the intersection when his car was struck on the left front corner by the car driven by defendant Robbins, who had proceeded through the stop sign without stopping. Plaintiff's airbags deployed. His car was totaled and towed from the scene.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff argued that defendant driver had violated state law by negligently running the stop sign, causing all of plaintiffs' injuries.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant admitted fault. Defendant contended that some of plaintiff's medical treatment went to pre-existing injuries, and that a dirt-bike
accident that plaintiff incurred, four months after the subject accident, caused his back problems. Defendant also
contended that distress to plaintiff's knee was not noted to any healthcare provider until two years after the accident, and thus was not caused by the accident.
Defendant disputed the reasonableness of the treatment plaintiff received, the reasonableness of claimed future medical expenses as well as his claim for loss of past earnings and future earnings capacity.

Specials in Evidence

Meds: $288,117

Injuries

Plaintiff was injured in his neck, back, knees, and arm, including a disc extrusion of 12 millimeters at L5-S1, confirmed by MRI, with nerve impingement, for which he underwent total fusion surgery.

Result

The case settled for $575,000 with the assistance of Judge Gary B. Tranberger in MSC, after two mediation sessions with Amy Fisch Solomon.