Motorcycle driver suffers serious injuries to his leg, hip and knee after a left-turn accident at intersection
Plaintiff was riding his Ducati motorcycle northbound along La Cienega Blvd. on March 30, 2019. On his way back. Plaintiff was nearing Melrose Place when defendant tried to turn left from Melrose Place onto southbound La Cienega Blvd. Plaintiff collided with defendants vehicle and flew in the air until it landed in middle of the road. Plaintiff was transported by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was diagnosed as having a comminuted fracture in the femoral neck. He was seen by Dr. Daniel Allison for an emergency hip replacement. While he was still recovering from hip surgery, plaintiff’s knee pain continued to get worse. The collision caused him to have a torn meniscus in the right knee. Six months later, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
Case Details
- Case Name: LeClair v. Morton
- Court and case number: Superior Court of Los Angeles/ 19STCV23903
- Judgment or Verdict Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2022
- Date Action Filed: Wednesday July 10, 2019
- Type of Action: Vehicles – Motorcycle
- Judge/Arbitrator(s),Hon. Randy Rhodes
- Plaintiffs: Stephen LeClair (60), artist
- Defendants: Grace Morton
- Type: Jury Verdict
Verdict and Settlement
- Award or Gross Verdict: $1,609 904
- Economic Damages Past medical expenses: $181 500Future medical expenses: $128.404
- Non-Economic Damages: Past: $400,000Future: $900,000
- Arbitration or Trial Time:3 Days
- Jury Deliberation:2 Hours
- Jury polls:12-0
Personal Injury Lawyers
- Attorney for the Plaintiff Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP, Robert Glassman and Jon Davidi Los Angeles.
- Advocate for the Defendant Tyson & Mendes LLP, Los Angeles by Kara Pape & Alexandra LaMonica
Expert Witnesses
- Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s). Rajan Patel, M.D., orthopedic surgery, Los Angeles (Treating physician.)Daniel Allison, M.D. Orthopedic Surgery, Los Angeles. (Treating physician.)
- The Medical Expert(s), Defendant: Stephen Mikulak, M.D., orthopedics, Newport Beach.
- The Technical Experts of Plaintiff: None.
- Technical Expert(s), Defendant: Nancy Fraser Michalski, billing.
Lawyers’ Closing Arguments
Plaintiff’s Contentions: Plaintiff sustained severe injuries from the collision that severely limited his daily activities. Plaintiff was unable to continue to exercise and snowboard with the same gait as before. Because the prosthetic would eventually wear out, Plaintiff would need a revision hip surgery. The plaintiff would need a partial replacement of his right knee.
Defendant’s Contentions: Plaintiff sustained hip and knee injuries in the accident. Defendant accepted liability. But, the defendant denied that plaintiff would require revision surgery and claimed that plaintiff could continue to do most of his pre collision activities.
Personal Injuries and Damages
- Plaintiff claims physical injuries Comminuted fracture of right femoral neck. Torn meniscus in the right knee.
Special Damages
- Special Damages Claimed – Past Medical: $181,500
- Special Damages Claimed – Future Medical: $232,500
- Special Damages Claimed for Past Loss Earnings: None
- Claimed Special Damages – Future Loss Earnings: None
Demands and offers
- Plaintiff, SS998 Demand$1,425,000 December 2020
- Defendant in SS998 Offer$900,000. Two weeks prior to trial
Additional Notes
AIG is the insurer of the defendant
