A Los Angeles jury has awarded $32.8 million to a man who suffered severe injuries after being rear-ended by a California Department of Insurance employee driving on official duty.
The August 2022 crash occurred on Highway 14 when the state employee, traveling at 65 miles per hour, failed to notice stopped traffic ahead and collided with a vehicle carrying the plaintiff, according to court filings. Both the State of California and the employee admitted liability but disputed the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries.
Lawyers for the man, represented by the PARRIS Law Firm, said the injuries included a traumatic brain injury and chronic spinal damage requiring fusion surgery and the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator.
“Our client couldn’t work, could barely think, and at times couldn’t even stand,” said R. Rex Parris, founder of the PARRIS Law Firm. “The defense admitted it was liable but then claimed my client was faking his injuries.”
Injuries resulted in long-term medical needs, reduced earnings
The jury awarded nearly $10 million for future medical expenses and another $1 million for future lost income. Additional awards included:
- $709,868.93 for past medical expenses
- $105,427.00 for past loss of earnings
- $4 million in past noneconomic damages
- $18 million in future noneconomic damages
Total damages reached $32,868,692.90.
The firm criticized the Department of Insurance for how it handled the claim, arguing that the agency failed to adequately address the injuries outside of litigation.
The case, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22CHCV01159, is one of three major verdicts the PARRIS Law Firm has secured in the past two weeks, totaling over $100 million.
