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Personal Injury
Automobile Accident
Multiple Vehicle Collision

Joyce Robbins v. Elmer Hopkins and Marco Suarez

Published: Jul. 11, 1998 | Result Date: Mar. 4, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 7456598 Verdict –  $14,630

Judge

Gordon S. Baranco

Court

Alameda Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

William F. Marini


Defendant

Robert M. Maltz

Peter C. Labrador


Experts

Plaintiff

John W. Daniels
(medical)

Richard N. Stuart
(technical)

Aubrey A. Swartz
(medical)

Defendant

Edward T. Kelley
(medical)

Lee W. Leckler
(technical)

Facts

On Dec. 24, 1993, plaintiff Joyce Robbins, a 33-year-old home care provider, was injured while she was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Drexel Perry. The plaintiff's vehicle was stopped at the light facing north on High Street at the intersection of High and Redding streets. The plaintiff passenger and driver Perry testified that the light was red in their direction. Defendant Suarez was driving a vehicle on High Street. Defendant Hopkins took the High Street exit from Interstate-580, and was driving his pickup truck eastbound on Redding. Each defendant claimed the other ran a red light. Defendants Suarez and Hopkins' vehicles collided, and Hopkins' pickup then collided with the plaintiff's stopped vehicle. All vehicles were totaled, and plaintiff passenger and driver Perry were taken from the scene by ambulance. The driver settled his case with defendant Suarez before trial. The plaintiff passenger brought this action against the defendants based on a negligence theory of recovery.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff made C.C.P. º998 settlement demands for $25,000 (to defendant Suarez) and $15,000 (to defendant Hopkins). Defendant Suarez made a C.C.P. º998 offer of compromise for $12,500.

Specials in Evidence

$9,900

Injuries

The plaintiff alleged injuries to the neck, back, left shoulder, and left hip requiring eight months of care.

Other Information

The verdict was reached approximately _____ years and _____ months after the case was filed. A settlement conference/ arbitration/ mediation was held on ____/____/19_____ before ______________ (name) of ____________ (affiliation) resulting in ______________ .

Deliberation

five hours

Poll

9-3 (liability); 12-0 (damages)

Length

six days


#91199

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