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CONFIDENTIAL

Aug. 19, 2000

Personal Injury (Vehicular)
Automobile Accident
Wrongful Death

Confidential

Settlement –  $1,425,000

Court

Case Not Filed


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Paul James Burkhart
(Smith Law Offices LLP)

Eric J. Dubin
(Dubin Law Firm)

Samantha Berryessa


Defendant

Peter J. Godfrey


Facts

The 16-year-old decedent was an honor student and tennis star at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, where she was part of a Geneva Switzerland International Baccalaureate honors program. After tennis practice, she got into a car with her long time childhood friend, also 16, who was driving. While traveling 50 mph, the young driver came behind a slower moving vehicle, and jerked the wheel, causing the car to go out of control, cross from the southbound lanes into oncoming traffic, and collide with a Ford Taurus driven by a 32-year-old pregnant mother. Both the teenagers died from the crash. The pregnant mother survived, but lost her pregnancy and sustained injuries to her face and knee. The 16-year-old female decedent was the only child of the plaintiffs who brought this wrongful death action against the defendant.

Other Information

<M>A mediation was held before William Sheffield at Judicate West. The family of the 16-year-old driver had a $1.5 million in insurance coverage. At mediation, the defendants tendered the $1.5 million policy, the plaintiffs received $1.425 million and the pregnant mother received $75,000.</M>


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