**** ****** v. ***** *****
Court: Circuit Court for Prince George's County
Case Number: N/A
Proceedings: Jury Trial
Judge: The Honorable William H. McCullough
Outcome: Jury verdict for plaintiff
Incident Date: N/A
Filing Date: N/A
Disposition Date: N/A
Plaintiff: **** ******
Plaintiff Attorney: Richard L. Jaklitsch
Defendant: ***** *****
Defense Attorney: Jeffrey S. Seal
Injury Claimed: Fractured nose, teeth
Description of Injury: Fractured nose and two broken teeth
Amount Sought: $6,602 in medical specials
Settlement Offer: None
Award: The case was bifurcated on the issues of liability and damages. Case settled for $29,500 after the jury found for plaintiff on the issue of liability.
Location of Incident: N/A
Case Information: Plaintiff was a passenger in a automobile operated by his son. Defendant was traveling in the same direction. Defendant pulled from the left lane into the middle lane in front of plaintiff's son's automobile. Plaintiff's son subsequently rear-ended defendant's vehicle.
Plaintiff alleged that: (1) defendant was negligent in making an unsafe lane change; (2) his son had no opportunity to avoid a collision due to the abrupt lane change; and (3) defendant's negligence was the sole proximate cause of the collision.
Defendant contended that he was firmly established in the center lane at the time of impact and that plaintiff's son's actions were the sole proximate cause of the collision and plaintiff's injuries.