Malik Singletary v. Pellerin Milnor
Published: Apr. 10, 1999 | Result Date: Mar. 12, 1999 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC171502 Verdict – $5,000,000
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Paul F. Youngdahl
(technical)
Gerald Rosenbluth
(technical)
Richard E. Grossman
(technical)
Defendant
Mack A. Quan
(technical)
Facts
On May 11, 1997, plaintiff Singletary, a 4-year-old boy opened the door to a washing machine manufactured by defendant while the spin cycle was running and stuck his arm in the spinning basket, which was tangled in clothing and severed. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendant based on strict liability, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand of $2.9 million. The defendant made a C.C.P. º998 offer of compromise of $750,000.
Injuries
The plaintiff's left arm was amputated and had to be reattached with residual scarring and loss of use. The plaintiff also suffered emotional distress. The plaintiff's 3-year-old brother witnessed the accident and suffered emotional distress.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year and 10 months after the case was filed. A mediation was held before Hiroshi Fujisaki of ADR resulting in no settlement. Malik Singletary, the 4-year-old boy whose arm was amputated and re-attached, recovered a total of $4.5 million, $2 million in economic and $2.5 million in non-economic. His younger brother, Shareef, three years old, recovered $500,000 for emotional distress in witnessing the accident.
Deliberation
5½ days
Length
17 days
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