Zastanwik v. Asplundh

Case Synopsis:

On July 16, 2013, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP attorney Spencer Lucas obtained a $19,466,000 jury verdict in the Los Angeles Superior Court for a man and his wife after the man suffered catastrophic injuries when he was hit by a truck while riding his motorcycle.

On December 15, 2009, Janusz Zastawnik was riding his motorcycle in Lomita, California when he was struck broadside on the right by a commercial truck driven by an employee of Asplundh Construction Co. Mr. Zastawnik suffered severe crush injuries to his lower limbs and was initially hospitalized for 33 days. He has had a total of five surgeries on his feet and ankles as a result of the crash and remains permanently disabled from his job as a truck driver. At trial, Asplundh disputed that the defendants were liable for the collision and challenged Mr. Zastawnik’s future medical expenses and the extent of his pain and suffering. Defense counsel asked the jury to award the Zastawniks only $2,500,000 in total damages. The jury disagreed, awarding Mr. Zastawnik and his wife, who had a claim for loss of consortium, almost the entire amount sought at trial. Asplundh offered $4,000,000 to settle the case prior to trial.

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP attorney Spencer Lucas was lead counsel. Co-counsel Charles Koro of Brown, Koro & Romag, LLP also represented the plaintiff at trial.

Following the denial of Defendants’ motion for a new trial, the case settled in October 2013 for $19,350,000.