FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
LOS ANGELES, California, July 17, 2013
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury in Pomona, California has awarded $19,466,000 to a man and his wife after the man suffered catastrophic injuries when he was hit by a truck while riding his motorcycle. The plaintiffs were represented at trial by Spencer Lucas of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP and Charles Koro of Brown, Koro & Romag, LLP.
On December 15, 2009, Janusz Zastawnik was riding his motorcycle in Lomita, California when he was struck broadside on the right by a GMC 1500 commercial truck driven by an employee of Asplundh Construction Co. Mr. Zastawnik suffered severe crush injuries to his lower limbs and was initially in the hospital for 33 days. He has had a total of five surgeries on his feet and ankles as a result of his injuries and remains permanently disabled. At trial, Asplundh disputed that the defendants were liable for the collision and challenged Mr. Zastawnik’s future medical expenses and pain and suffering. The jury disagreed, awarding Mr. Zastawnik and his wife, who had a claim for loss of consortium, almost the entire amount sought at trial.
“Through no fault of their own, the Zastawnik family was brought into this nightmare. Asplundh Construction not only crushed this man, they avoided responsibility, and then tried to call him a fraud. The jury did the right thing with this verdict and hopefully now Mr. Z will be able to get the surgeries and treatment he desperately needs,” said attorney Spencer Lucas. “Throughout this 3 ½ year ordeal, Asplundh put up one roadblock after another, shirking responsibility for our clients’ devastating injuries. I am grateful for our clients’ unwavering trust and courage in seeing this through to trial. Justice certainly prevailed here,” added attorney Charles Koro.
The Defendants were represented at trial by Byron Purcell and Sylvia Chiu from Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt. Asplundh has $30,000,000 in insurance coverage.
Janusz and Dorota Zastawnik v. Asplundh Tree Expert Co., et al. Superior Court of the State of California, Los Angeles County Hon. Robert A. Dukes, Los Angeles Superior Court – East Division – Pomona, Dept. O. Case No. NC044263
Contacts:
Spencer Lucas
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP
310-477-1700
lucas@psbr.law
www.psblaw.com