Shaw Ashley, John Kessenich, and Brooke Antol recently obtained a favorable verdict for our client after a one-week trial in an auto accident matter in Alachua County, Florida. The auto accident was an admitted liability rear-end impact. The Plaintiffs had extensive medical treatment after the accident, including injections, a cervical discectomy and fusion surgery, a lumbar discectomy surgery, and a shoulder arthroscopy surgery. The Defense strategically focused on Plaintiffs’ various pre-existing chronic health conditions as the actual cause of their alleged ongoing pain and need for surgery.
At the close of the case, the Plaintiffs asked the jury for more than $1 million collectively in damages, including past medical expenses and past and future pain and suffering. The Defense suggested that the Plaintiffs sustained muscle strains and the jury should award one Plaintiff $30,000.00 and the second Plaintiff $20,000.00 as reasonable medical costs related to the accident with no permanency. Ultimately, the jury awarded less than the defense requested and found no permanent injuries. The verdicts will trigger the Defense’s pre-trial Proposals for Settlement and will likely result in a judgment against the Plaintiffs for outstanding attorney’s fees and costs incurred by the Defense.