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Motor Vehicle Negligence- Art teacher’s hand injured in collision
Virginia Lawyers Weekly//April 27, 2026//
$245,000 settlement
Injuries alleged: Scapholunate ligament tear in right hand
Case name: Roy Barnett Jr. v. David Skoczlas
Court: Fairfax County Circuit Court
Case no.: CL2025-7287
Date resolved: Jan. 14, 2026
Amount: $245,000 (plus $6,507.42 in special damages)
Attorney for plaintiff: Emily E. Smith, Fredericksburg, Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen
Case description: An out-of-state art teacher sustained a right scapholunate ligament injury in a rear-end collision on Jan. 17, 2022. Coverage was limited to a $250,000 liability policy. Plaintiff’s medical bills totaled less than $7,000.
An orthopedic surgeon opined that the plaintiff would need future surgery; however, given the natural progression of the injury, it was difficult to determine which surgery he would need and when.
Despite the low specials and speculative future care, the case was resolved for $245,000, $5,000 less than the available insurance coverage.
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