$615K Demand Ends in Complete Defense Verdict

Gina Y. Kandarian-Stein and K. Robert Gonter, Jr. secured a complete defense verdict following a six-day jury trial in Los Angeles County.

Liability was admitted for a T-bone collision involving substantial vehicle damage. The plaintiff alleged a concussion and neck and low-back injuries, underwent multiple PRP injections, and claimed that future lumbar surgery was necessary. Plaintiff’s attorney asked the jury to award $615k. The defense asked for zero.

A key issue at trial was the plaintiff’s claimed physical limitations. Testimony was presented that her ability to dance and perform had significantly declined after the accident. However, surveillance obtained during trial showed her attending a two-hour dance/Zumba class, and the defense presented post-accident social-media videos showing her dancing, squatting, and performing other movements.

The defense also presented evidence of a prior accident involving neck and back injuries that had not been disclosed during discovery and deposition. Defense medical testimony further supported the position that the imaging showed longstanding degenerative changes rather than an objective traumatic spinal injury and that the proposed injections and surgery were unnecessary.

After approximately 2.8 hours of deliberations, the jury found that the defendant’s negligence was not a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s harm.

Final result: complete defense verdict. $0 awarded.