Facts

On June 21, 2019, Robbye Sanders was driving down Sunset Boulevard when Damian O'Hara rear-ended the Nissan Versa Note she was driving with his BMW SUV. On March 25, 2020, Sanders filed suit against O'Hara in Los Angeles Superior Court.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: The plaintiff contended that she hit her knees on the vehicle dashboard during the accident; that this caused her pre-existing osteoarthritis to become symptomatic; that her condition declined as she went through chiropractic care and injections; that in 2021, she underwent total knee replacements; that she would need future surgery as the implants wore down; that she now had to walk with a cane; and that she could not partake in activities she once enjoyed. She contended that her injuries were a result of the crash, and that she was entitled to past and future medical expenses, past lost earnings, and past and future non-economic damages.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: The defendant admitted liability for the traffic collision, but he contended that the plaintiff's condition was not a result of the crash; and that she would have needed the knee replacements even if the crash had not occurred. Defendant also disputed the claimed past lost earnings based on testimony from plaintiff's employer that she was let go because business was slow and she was the most junior employee.

Result

A jury returned a verdict in Sanders's favor, and it awarded her $3,076,000, including $462,000 for past and future medical damages; $45,000 for past lost earnings; and $2,569,000 in past and future non-economic damages.