Low Jury Verdict Results in Zero Reward for Plaintiff in Rear End Motor Vehicle Accident

David Melton and Colleen Howard successfully defended a rear end motor vehicle case with admitted liability in Sacramento County Superior Court.  The 49 year old plaintiff claimed over fifty separate injuries from the accident, and that the accident rendered him disabled and unable to work for the rest of his life.  Plaintiff further claimed that no doctor was able to cure him, and therefore, he faced a lifetime of pain and lost earnings.

At trial, plaintiff asked the jury for a verdict exceeding $1 million.  However, after deliberating for less than four hours, the jury awarded plaintiff only $11,078.00, well under defendants’ previously issued C.C.P. § 998 offer to compromise.  After awarding costs to defendants in light of the 998 offer, plaintiff will ultimately take home nothing, and may owe money to defendants.

David Melton is a partner at Porter Scott and has been with the firm for 18 years.  Colleen Howard has been an associate with the firm for 5 years.