Kay Lee v. Byung Qyu Park, D.D.S.
Published: Jul. 11, 1998 | Result Date: May 21, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC170794 Verdict – $330,000
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Edward W. Hess Jr.
(Law Offices of Edward W. Hess, Jr.)
Defendant
Scott S. Blackstone
(Law Offices of John A. Hauser)
Experts
Plaintiff
Victor W. Mintz
(medical)
George W. Bernard
(medical)
Defendant
John Mulvehill
(medical)
Gary L. Wyatt
(medical)
Facts
On March 5, 1996, plaintiff Kay Lee, a 30-year-old saleswoman, consulted defendant Dr. Byung Qyu Park, a dentist, for a sore wisdom tooth (third molar). The defendant recommended and performed extraction. Surgery was medically uneventful, but the plaintiff was left with a partially numb tongue. There has been no change of condition to present date. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendant based on negligence.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand for $150,000. The defendant offered $9,999 at the mandatory settlement conference.
Injuries
The plaintiff claimed to suffer a severed lingual nerve resulting in permanent numbness on the right half of her tongue; diminished taste and salivation; and speech difficulty.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year after the case was filed. MEDIATION: A two-hour mediation was held before Wallace C. Reed of Hillsinger & Constanzo, resulting in no settlement.
Deliberation
four hours
Poll
9-3
Length
five days
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