A Los Angeles bicyclist, who suffered injuries including a lower leg amputation when he was hit by a big-rig truck making a right-hand turn, was awarded $34,555,220 after a personal injury trial.
His attorneys said that Alan Casillas, was 19 years old on the morning of Dec. 7, 2012 and was riding his bicycle to a friends’ house. They say that’s when a big rig drove over part of the sidewalk while making a right turn from Tweedy Boulevard to Alameda Street. They said the truck struck Casillas, knocking him from the bike and crushing his left leg, among other injuries.
The lawyers said that the defendant initially argued that Mr Casillas was partially responsible for being struck while on the sidewalk and that argument is a common “affirmative defense” for contending with a personal injury case, although California limits the scope of this argument.
According to court documents, the defendant also challenged the extent of Mr. Casillas’ damages, telling the jury during closing arguments that Mr. Casillas should be awarded between approximately $5,000,000 and $7,000,000. After three years of litigation the jury disagreed with Landstar’s case when they awarded Mr. Casillas $27,875,000 for past and future pain and suffering, $5,941,581 for past and future medical expenses, and $738,639 for past and future loss of earnings.
Attorney Raphael Javid said that “… our client deserved every penny of verdict. Mr. Casillas is a very sympathetic young man who will have to live with the most severe injury for the remainder of his life which will only get worse over time.”
The plaintiff was represented at trial by Brian Panish, Thomas Schultz, Erika Contreras and Deborah Chang of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP and Sean Banafsheh, Kevin Danesh, and Raphael Javid, of Banafsheh Danesh and Javid, P.C. (BD&J). The case filing is Alan Casillas v. Landstar Ranger, Inc.; Francisco Azurdia. Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Case No. BC 500485. Hon. Elizabeth Allen White, Dept. 48.
(The CCM offers updates on long-running civil trials. To suggest a “case history,” email information to info@californiacourtsmonitor.
