$250,000 Verdict

The plaintiff was a 70-year-old woman who was injured when her car was struck from behind. She sued the other driver and the drivers employer. The accident happened in stop-and-go traffic on Manchester Road in St. Louis County. There was no damage to either vehicle, but the plaintiff suffered immediate numbness in her right leg from hip to foot and was unable to get out of the car. She suffered permanent loss of motor function in her right leg. The defendant claimed the woman’s preexisting back condition was the cause of the loss of motor function. But the plaintiff’s expert claimed the injury exacerbated the preexisting condition and caused the motor function loss.

Type of Action: Negligence

Type of Injuries: Back injury, loss of use of right leg, pain in left arm and hand

Court/Case Number/Date: St. Louis City Circuit Court/962-07325/Oct. 23, 1998

Caption: Haskenhoff v. MedRehab of Missouri Inc., et al.

Judge,Jury, or ADR: Jury

Name of Judge: Judge Thomas C. Grady

Special Damages Claimed: $40,000 past medical expense

Verdict or Settlement: $250,000

verdict ("upon motion by Patton, Judge added prejudgement interest of $12,406 for a verdict of $262,406)

Allocation of Fault: 100 percent to defendant

Last Offer: $180,000

Last Demand: $275,000

Attorney for Plaintiff: S. Lee Patton, St. Louis

Insurance Carrier: AIG (MedRehab) State Farm (Neimeyer)

Plaintiff’s Experts: Dr. Donald McPhaul, St. Louis (rehabilitation medicine); Tracy Perkins, St. Louis (physical therapist); Dr. Selwyn Picker, St. Louis (neurosurgeon); Judy Riley, St. Louis (verdict reporter)

Defendant’s Expert: Dr. Herbert Rosenbaum, St. Louis (neurologist)