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CONFIDENTIAL

Mar. 18, 2000

Personal Injury (Vehicular)
Auto v. Auto
Negligence

Confidential

Settlement –  $102,958

Court

L.A. Superior Glendale


Attorneys

Plaintiff

E. Grant Hardacre


Defendant

Steven E. Garfinkle


Experts

Plaintiff

Pablo Lawner
(medical)

Defendant

Jacob E. Tauber M.D.
(medical)

Facts

On April 8, 1998, at approximately 2 p.m., defendant was heading eastbound on Ventura Boulevard in his Honda
mini van, traveling at or near the 35 mph speed limit. Plaintiff who was traveling westbound on Ventura in her
Mustang, collided nearly head-on with defendant.
Before impact, plaintiff had been waiting to turn left in the intersection of Laurelgrove Avenue, which is
controlled by a standard three-phase traffic signal. Police officers were called to the scene of the accident, but
no report was filed.

Settlement Discussions

The defendant made a C.C.P. Section 998 offer of $15,000 on March 9, 1999. The plaintiff demanded the limits of defendantÆs policy of $100,000 on May 27, 1999.

Specials in Evidence

$30,174 $34,000 $50,000

Damages

PlaintiffÆs 1997 Ford Mustang CT convertible, valued at $25,658, was declared a total loss.

Injuries

Plaintiff was required to undergo a series of epidural injections before her doctor concluded that a diskectomy and facetectomy were necessary to relieve the symptoms related to a partial disc collapse at left L5-S1 with a disc bulge that compressed the left L5 root. The plaintiff also sustained bruises and scrapes to her forearms, face, chest and knees, as well as a small cut on her face. Future surgery will allegedly be necessary to stabilize the disc injury.

Other Information

The settlement of $102,958 was reached on Aug. 25, 1999, the day following a non-binding arbitration award of $115,000 by Robert L. Graham.


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