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CONFIDENTIAL

Apr. 19, 1997

Personal Injury (Vehicular)
Auto v. Bicycle
Negligence

Confidential

Settlement –  $750,000

Judge

Ronald M. Sohigian

Court

L.A. Superior Central


Attorneys

Plaintiff

R. Thomas Wire
(Law Office of R. Thomas Wire)


Defendant

John Nouskajian Jr.


Experts

Plaintiff

Harry J. Krueper Jr.
(technical)

Andrew Harrell
(technical)

J. Thomas Williams
(medical)

Defendant

Gerald P. Bretting
(technical)

Richard L. Treiman M.D.
(medical)

Anthony C. Stein Ph.D.
(technical)

Facts

On Dec. 5, 1994, the plaintiff, a 37-year-old construction worker, was riding his bicycle through an unmarked crosswalk at the intersection of 6th and La Fayette Park Place. The defendant bus driver, who was employed by the defendant county transit authority, was traveling westbound on 6th. As the bus driver made a left-hand turn onto southbound La Fayette Park Place, the bus struck the plaintiff. The plaintiff brought this action against the bus driver and the county transit authority based on negligence and respondeat superior theories of recovery.

Settlement Discussions

Per the defendans, the plaintiff made a "mid-seven-figure" settlement demands.

Specials in Evidence

$118,792 $50,000 (per the defendants) $______________________ $25,000 to $40,000 (per the defendants)

Injuries

The plaintiff alleged he sustained numerous fractures requiring open reduction surgery on the right and left legs and requiring skin grafts to the lower extremities. The plaintiff also claimed he suffered a 35 percent bowing of the left tibia with nonunion of his tibia and a tear of the medical meniscus of his right knee with the possibility of future amputation of his left leg just below the kneecap.

Other Information

The case was set for trial on three different dates but never started due to courtroom unavailability.


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