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Personal Injury
Automobile Accident
Multiple Rear-End Collision

Michael Erwin Roberts v. Lisa Spoor and Michael Bertz

Published: Nov. 21, 1998 | Result Date: Sep. 17, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: LC038787 –  $0

Judge

James C. Chalfant

Court

L.A. Superior Van Nuys


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Lessing C. Solov
(Solov & Teitell APC)


Defendant

Brian D. Holmberg


Experts

Plaintiff

William H. Dillin M.D.
(medical)

Franklin G. Moser
(medical)

Sandy Browne
(technical)

John M. Larson
(medical)

Defendant

Peter Orner
(technical)

Myron Koch
(medical)

Stephen L.G. Rothman M.D.
(medical)

Facts

On Nov. 26, 1995, plaintiff Michael Roberts, a 32-year-old chauffeur was driving his employer's Lincoln and was stopped at an intersection on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. Rosario Gonzales was stopped behind plaintiff. Defendant driver Lisa Spoor rear-ended Gonzales who was pushed into the rear of plaintiff's automobile. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendants based on a negligence theory of recovery.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff made a settlement demand for $250,000 to include the comp lien. The defendant made an offer of compromise for $20,000 to include the workers' comepensation lien.

Specials in Evidence

$20,858 (stipulated) and future surgery claimed at $50,000 $42,636 $23,200 (stipulated)

Injuries

The plaintiff claimed injuries to his neck, shoulders and low back. The plaintiff asserted that the accident caused retrolisthesis of L5 on S1 to include severe desiccation of the L4-S1 disc requiring the need for a fusion of this level.

Other Information

The verdict reached approximately two years after the case was filed.

Deliberation

4.5 hours

Poll

10-2 (negligence); 9-3 (no causation)

Length

17 days


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