Panish Shea & Boyle LLP Announces $3.1 Million Jury Verdict for Woman Injured In Low Impact Collision

Panish Shea & Boyle attorneys Rahul Ravipudi and David Rudorfer obtained a $3,102,463.62 jury verdict for a woman who suffered a ruptured cervical disc as the result of a low speed, rear end car accident. The trial was held in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena, California.

On May 10, 2011, 56-year-old Teresa Gamage was the front passenger in a vehicle that was stopped at a red light in Beverly Hills, California when it was struck from behind by the defendant driver at a low rate of speed, resulting in almost no property damage. Ms. Gamage sought immediate treatment for pain. Although an MRI taken three weeks after the incident showed degenerative disease with a 3-4mm disc bulge at C5-6 that was not impinging on the spinal cord, the treating neurosurgeon determined that there was a ruptured disc at C5-6 which was impinging on the spinal cord and causing radiculopthy. After conservative treatment, including physical therapy and epidural injections, did not relieve Ms. Gamage’s pain, she proceeded with a C5-6 fusion surgery in November 2011. Ms. Gamage could not afford necessary treatment after the surgery and did not obtain any.

The defendant driver admitted her negligence caused the collision and attempted to dispute that the collision caused any injuries to Ms. Gamage. At trial, attorneys for the defendant questioned causation and challenged the reasonableness of Ms. Gamage’s medical bills, her need for future medical treatment and the value of her pain and suffering. The jury disagreed, awarding Ms. Gamage all of her requested past ($197,752.52) and future ($1,904,711.10) medical expenses and an additional $1,000,000 for past and future pain and suffering.

Rahul Ravipudi, counsel for Ms. Gamage, stated, “this verdict is a fair and just outcome that ensures that Ms. Gamage’s medical care will be taken care of for the rest of her life. This is a case that need not have gone to trial but for the unreasonableness of the defendant’s insurance company.” In eleventh hour settlement discussions, the insurance company offered only $87,000 to settle the case, and the highest offer before the start of trial was $350,000. “Hopefully this case serves as notice to insurance companies that they need to be reasonable and offer fair compensation,” continued Mr. Ravipudi.

While the jury was deliberating, the parties reached a high/low agreement of $650,000 and $5,250,000, plus costs, with all rights to appeal waived. The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before reaching its verdict.

The defendant driver was represented at trial by the Law Office of Gregory J. Lucett. The referring plaintiff’s lawyer was Hamed Yazdanpanah, Esq.

This is the third multi-million dollar jury verdict obtained by Panish Shea & Boyle LLP attorneys this year. Last month, in Diao v. Southern California Gas Co., also tried by Mr. Ravipudi, the firm obtained a $19,786,818 jury verdict for a man injured in a home gas explosion. In May, the firm obtained a $15,313,703 jury verdict for a woman and her daughter after the woman suffered a broken back while riding on a recklessly driven Alameda-Contra Costa Transit bus.

Teresa Gamage v. Estelle Roitblat
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. BC490437
Hon. Jan Pluim

Contacts:

Panish Shea & Boyle LLP
Rahul Ravipudi
David Rudorfer
310-477-1700
ravipudi@psblaw.com
rudorfer@psblaw.com
www.psblaw.com

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.