Beverly and Charles Crutchfield v. Der Sung Wu
Court: Circuit Court for Prince George's County
Case Number: CAL 90-18138
Proceedings: Jury Trial
Judge: The Honorable Richard H. Sothoron, Jr.
Outcome: Jury verdict for plaintiff
Incident Date: N/A
Filing Date: N/A
Disposition Date: N/A
Plaintiff: Beverly and Charles Crutchfield
Plaintiff Attorney: Richard L. Jaklitsch
Defendant: Der Sung Wu
Defense Attorney: James R. Schraf
Injury Claimed: Head, Neck and back
Description of Injury: Beverly - Head concussion, nausea and soft tissue neck and back injuries. Charles - head concussion and soft tissue low back injuries
Amount Sought: $7,727 (Beverly) and $5,007 (Charles) in medical specials
Settlement Offer: $10,000
Award: $50,170 (Beverly - $38,327 | Charles - $11,843)
Location of Incident: N/A
Case Information: Defendant rear-ended plaintiff's pickup truck, resulting in $125 in property damage. The impact allegedly pushed plaintiff's truck into the middle of the intersection. Plaintiffs claimed that they both struck their heads on the rear window. Plaintiff wife was taken to the emergency room, treated and releases. Plaintiff husband obtained no medical treatment until three days post-accident whereupon he complained of a head concussion. One week thereafter he complained of low back pain.
Plaintiff's alleged that the impact was significant despite the minimal property damage and that they both struck their heads upon the back window of the pickup truck due to the severity of the impact.
Defendant contended that the plaintiffs suffered minimal injuries in the collision and that the plaintiff husband's back pain was proximately related to a lifting incident at his place of employment.