$11 Million Verdict

On August 22, 2023, following a 3-week automobile versus automobile trial against the County of San Bernardino, a panel of 12 jurors awarded $11,069,517 for Plaintiff, represented by Kramer Trial Lawyers’ Dan Kramer and Brandon Salumbides.

On April 24, 2018, Plaintiff was driving with his wife, daughter, and grandchild when San Bernardino County Deputy Michael Andrade turned left turn in front of Plaintiff’s vehicle causing a collision at approximately 40 miles per hour. As a result of the crash, Plaintiff suffered cervical and lumbar spine injuries for which he underwent several spinal injections, a cervical fusion, and received a recommendation for a lumbar discectomy.

While Defense conceded liability, throughout trial, the defense maintained that the forces of the crash were insufficient to cause structural failure in the spine and that Plaintiff’s spinal condition was due to degeneration and not related to the crash. Plaintiff served a 998 on September 2021 for $250,000, which Defendant allowed to lapse. In May of 2022, Defendant served a 998 for $225,000, which Plaintiff rejected. Defendant did not make any other offers through trial. At trial, the defense attorney asked the jury to award $64,000 – $180,000 inclusive of economic and non-economic damages. This case presented a true David versus Goliath story. Plaintiff is a man of little means and education, hurt by no fault of his own, who went against the County of San Bernardino that expended large resources to discredit his injuries. The jury saw through the defense’s position, and after under 4 hours of deliberation, ultimately awarded $11,069,517 to Plaintiff. $10,000,000 of the verdict was comprised solely of non-economic (pain and suffering) damages. This win represents the third multi-million dollar verdict in a row for KTL, but most importantly a huge victory for Plaintiff, who was able to have his story told, with justice being served.