VAN NUYS, Calif. (AP) — A motorcyclist in Los Angeles County has been awarded $11,045,000 by a Superior Court jury in Van Nuys after a collision with a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) vehicle left him with serious injuries. The verdict, delivered on Friday, March 22, 2024, comes after a long legal battle in which the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power denied all liability for the collision.
The plaintiff, Grady Dillon, was riding his motorcycle in downtown Los Angeles on the morning of April 12, 2019, when a DWP employee made an unsafe left-hand turn in front of him. Unable to avoid the collision, Dillon suffered numerous fractures to his pelvis, ribs, left wrist, and right foot, as well as a lacerated spleen. He was hospitalized for 12 days and underwent two major surgeries on his pelvis and wrist. Dillon has since undergone three more surgical interventions for his injuries. The collision has left him facing a lifetime of ongoing pain and physical limitations.
The DWP claimed during the trial that Dillon was at fault for the collision because he was driving his motorcycle at a speed higher than the speed limit. However, the jury disagreed and found both the DWP employee and the department 100 percent at fault. They awarded Dillon $11,045,000, including $9,500,000 for his past and future pain and suffering.
Dillon was represented at trial by Robert Glassman, Tom Schultz, and Jonathan Davidi of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, along with co-counsel Nina Sargsyan of Downtown L.A. Law Group. Glassman expressed gratitude that the jury “delivered a just verdict based on the evidence and their common sense.”
The City of Los Angeles was represented by attorneys from Everett Dorey LLP and Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. However, their arguments were not persuasive enough to convince the jury to absolve the DWP of all liability.
This case highlights the importance of holding government agencies accountable for their actions. Despite video evidence clearly showing the DWP employee was at fault, the department denied all responsibility. The hefty verdict serves as a reminder that justice can prevail against powerful entities.
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP is a law firm dedicated to seeking justice for plaintiffs in personal injury cases. The firm has a track record of obtaining significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of its clients.
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