On June 7, 2016, Russell Waldon and David Smith obtained a defense verdict in Henry County in a disputed-liability case. The plaintiff alleged $25,000 in medical special damages and $6,000 in lost wages. Plaintiff claimed permanent impairment to her neck and back but was impeached during cross-examination with evidence of prior claims and lawsuits for the same injuries. After hearing from both parties and the investigating officer, the jury determined that a third party caused the accident by coming to a sudden stop without functioning brake lights. Plaintiff’s lowest demand during the course of the litigation was $50,000.

On June 3, 2016, Russell Waldon and Jared Jacobs received a defense verdict in a disputed fault, four-car accident in which their client was the driver of the rear vehicle.  Through pointed cross-examination and the testimony of a key witness, the defense prevailed. The jury deliberated for thirty-six minutes before finding for the defense. Plaintiffs presented approximately $20,000 in medical bills and requested the jury award $75,000.

WACHP is pleased to post a new article written by Rachel Reed, Clay Knowles, and David Glustrom that was recently published in the GDLA newsletter. Medical Funding Companies: A New Problem for an Old Rule

On June 7, 2016, Jared Jacobs and John Alday obtained a verdict in favor of John Doe in Gwinnett County. The plaintiffs alleged that a John Doe driver rear-ended another car, pushing that car into the plaintiffs’ vehicle, causing severe injuries, including a herniated disk in one plaintiff’s cervical spine. On the morning of trial, plaintiffs and another defendant announced a settlement and the named defendant was dismissed from the case.   Through cross-examination of the involved drivers, passengers, and the mechanic, as well as the direct examination of the investigating officer, Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Alday convinced the jury that no John Doe vehicle was involved. The plaintiffs had in excess of $25,000 in medical expenses and asked the jury to award $75,000.  After 36 minutes, the jury returned and found in favor of the defendant. Before trial, the insurance carrier had offered $5,000 to settle the suit

WACHP would like to congratulate Jonathan Adelman, Dan Prout, Trevor Hiestand, and Russell Waldon for being named 2016 Georgia Super Lawyers.  WACHP would also like to congratulate Rakhi McNeill and Ashley Rice for being named 2016 Georgia Rising Stars.

On April 25, 2016, Ashley Rice obtained a defense verdict from a DeKalb County jury after only five minutes of deliberating.  Ms. Rice’s client admitted fault for the subject motor vehicle accident, but disputed that the plaintiff was injured as she claimed.  The plaintiff went to the emergency room on the date of the accident and subsequently sought chiropractic treatment and pain management for neck, shoulder, chest, and back injuries.  She presented over $10,000 in healthcare bills and asked the jury to award $25,000.  Before trial, the defense had offered $8,500 to settle.

Russell D. Waldon and Raqketa D. Williams obtained a verdict in the amount of $1,700 for their client in Cobb County on Monday, April 11, 2016. Plaintiff attempted to enter almost $9,000 of medical special damages into evidence, at least $7,300 of which stemmed from incidents other than the subject automobile accident. Waldon and Williams brought this out at trial and convinced the jury to award plaintiff only $1,700, after less than an hour of deliberations.

In March of 2016, Marcia Stewart successfully defended a case in DeKalb County in which her client admitted to failing to yield the right of way and entering an intersection causing plaintiff to T-bone the rear of his vehicle.  There was extensive damage, and both vehicles were totaled.  Plaintiff’s airbags deployed and he sustained a “questionable” loss of consciousness at the scene. The plaintiff was taken to the emergency room from the scene where x-rays were taken and he was kept overnight.  After an approximately 3.5 week gap in treatment, plaintiff sought chiropractic treatment. The plaintiff presented $8,200 in special damages, and his attorney asked for all special damages and a generous amount for pain and suffering in his closing.  In less than an hour, the DeKalb jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff in the amount of his ambulance and emergency room bills only, $2,955.  The defendant had offered $10,000 prior to trial.  

Despite the defendant’s admission of fault, on February 22, 2016, Attorney Andrew Brandt obtained a defense verdict in front of a Fulton County jury.  Mr. Brandt’s client admitted that she caused the rear-end accident that caused extensive vehicle damage.  After leaving the scene of the accident in her own vehicle, plaintiff complained of soft tissue injury and began treating with a chiropractor the following day.  Despite a dozen trips to the chiropractor, and undergoing cervical and lumbar MRIs, the jury did not believe that plaintiff was injured as a result of the accident.  Eight months prior to trial, the defendant had extended statutory settlement offers in the amount of $3,500.   Plaintiff’s attorney, in closing arguments, asked the jury to award plaintiff $25,000.

In February of 2016, Jonathan Adelman and Ashley Rice successfully argued to a jury of twelve that their defendant client, who admitted to driving while intoxicated, should not be ordered to pay punitive damages.  The accident occurred when the defendant crashed into the plaintiffs’ vehicle and pushed it into the rear of a third vehicle.  The trunk of the plaintiffs’ vehicle was pushed into the backseat.  The lowest pre-trial demand was $180,000.  The last pre-trial offer was $43,000 with a clear commitment to increase that offer if the plaintiffs lowered their demand.    The plaintiffs refused to counter, and the jury returned with a verdict in the amount of $45,000 and zero punitives.