Cook suffered soft tissue injuries after rear-end crash at stoplight — $150,000 verdict

Type of action: Personal injury; auto accident

Injuries alleged: Ureteral tear, nephrectomy

Name of case: Jones v. Stroble

Court: Richmond Circuit Court

Case no.: Cl20-4130

Tried before: Jury

Name of judge: Judge Jacqueline S. McClenney

Date resolved: 1/20/2022

Special damages: $28,189.26

Offer: $24,124.89

Verdict or settlement: Verdict

Amount: $150,000

Attorney for plaintiff (and city): Malcolm P. McConnell III, Richmond

Description of case: The plaintiff was a 30-year-old man with no relevant prior medical or injury history. He was rear-ended while waiting at a red light. He drove his car home from the scene. When awakening from a nap, he felt pain in his neck and shoulder. He went to the emergency department and was diagnosed with soft tissue injuries. When he did not get better, he returned to the emergency department and was referred to OrthoVA. Over several months he was treated with pain medication, physical therapy and pain injections. Eventually he stopped treatment for economic reasons. The plaintiff was a cook and had worked in the restaurant business since he was 16. No future medical costs were claimed. No permanency was claimed, though he did testify that he had ongoing complaints.

The defense admitted liability, but contended that the injuries were minimal, that they healed in 12 weeks, and they denied any ongoing pain.

The plaintiff requested $200,000 in opening. The defendant suggested that $5,000 or $10,000 over specials would be fair. The jury deliberated for about an hour before rendering its verdict.

Malcolm P. McConnell III, counsel for the plaintiff, provided case information.

[022-T-019]