#21 – $1.51 million « Virginia Lawyers Weekly

#21 – $1.51 million

By Sarah Rodriguez
Published: January 28, 2009

Confidential

Type of Case: Motorcyclists, husband and wife, hit by police car

Attorneys: James C. Lewis, Randall E. Appleton, Virginia Beach

Summary: A police cruiser drifted into the lane of oncoming traffic and struck plaintiffs head on after sideswiping a pickup truck. Plaintiff’s attorneys developed evidence that the policeman had been diagnosed a year earlier with sleep apnea and had not complied with the recommended treatment.

Wife sustained fractures to her arm, wrist, tibia, ankle and hand and was totally disabled from her job, which required heavy lifting. She incurred medical expenses of $135,000 and a future loss of earnings of $180,000 to $470,000 depending on her future work capacity.

Husband suffered a pelvic fracture and scrotal injury and had $108,000 in medical expenses and $9,000 in lost wages.