Confidential
Settlement – $100,000Judge
Court
Santa Barbara Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Cheryll A. Smith
(medical)
Edward L. Bennett M.A.
(technical)
Defendant
Paul Satz
(medical)
John F. Perry
(technical)
Michael A. Wienir M.D.
(medical)
Facts
On Jan. 19, 1995, the plaintiff, a 45-year-old college lecturer and Ph.D. candidate, was driving a Jeep Cherokee on Gutierrez Street in Santa Barbara, a two-lane one-way street. The defendant, driving a Toyota Camry, tried to make a left-hand turn from the right-hand lane. The plaintiff was driving in the left-hand lane. The defendant's vehicle struck the plaintiff's vehicle when the defendant's vehicle crossed the plaintiff's lane of travel. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendant based on negligence theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand for $98,000, which was withdrawn. The plaintiff made a later demand for $150,000. Per the plaintiff, the defendant made no offer until a policy limit offer of $100,000 was made approximately one week before the mandatory settlement conference. Per the defendant, the defendant offered $50,000.
Other Information
The settlement was reached approximately one year and two months after the case was filed.
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