Los Angeles Partners Laurie Stayton and Nicholas Koumoulis successfully defended a transportation client in a personal injury lawsuit, securing a favorable jury verdict following a trial in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Alhambra Courthouse.
The lawsuit arose from a rear-end collision involving the client's employee. Prior to trial, the defense admitted liability, leaving the jury to determine only the amount of reasonable compensation owed to the plaintiff.
The 29-year-old plaintiff alleged that the accident caused significant injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and injuries to her neck and lower back. She underwent years of treatment, including multiple spinal injections and lumbar surgery, and sought approximately $1.8 million in economic and noneconomic damages.
Throughout trial, Ms. Stayton and Mr. Koumoulis acknowledged that the plaintiff sustained injuries in the collision and that her initial six months of conservative treatment, along with associated pain and suffering, were reasonable and compensable. However, the defense presented evidence that the plaintiff's later treatment, including the injections and lumbar surgery, was related to a subsequent lower back injury rather than the subject accident.
After deliberation, the jury agreed with the defense's position. The jury limited the plaintiff's recoverable past medical expenses to her initial six months of treatment and returned a total verdict of $372,323, more than $1.4 million below the amount requested by the plaintiff.
The verdict also came in substantially below the defense's pretrial statutory offer to compromise of $700,000 under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998, entitling the defendants to seek recovery of their post-offer costs, including expert witness fees, as permitted by law.
"This verdict reflects the jury's careful evaluation of the evidence and its recognition that damages must be based on medical causation, not simply the existence of treatment," said Ms. Stayton. "We admitted responsibility where appropriate, but we were equally committed to ensuring our client was held responsible only for those injuries and damages that were actually caused by the accident."
Mr. Koumoulis added, "Cases involving admitted liability often become battles over the scope of damages. This result demonstrates the importance of thoroughly evaluating causation and presenting a clear, evidence-based defense. We appreciate the jury's thoughtful consideration of the evidence."
The verdict reinforces Lewis Brisbois' trial philosophy: when a plaintiff's claimed damages exceed what the evidence supports, the firm is prepared to take the case to trial to achieve a fair result for its clients.
Ms. Stayton is a seasoned trial attorney with 20-plus years of courtroom experience and a member of the firm's National Trial Practice Team. She represents a broad spectrum of clients, including public entities, national corporations, and businesses across diverse industries.
Mr. Koumoulis is a trial attorney with Lewis Brisbois' General Liability Practice. He focuses his practice on general civil litigation, including automobile liability, and routinely handles all aspects of litigation, including jury trials.