Phillips, Erlewine, Given & Carlin LLP

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Firm scores million dollar plus verdict in personal injury case</a>

March 12, 2019 – Following a three-week trial in Santa Clara County Superior Court, firm partner Nick Carlin, assisted by associate Michael Levinson and paralegal Kaylee Racs, obtained a $1.25 million jury verdict (increased to over $1.3 million with the court’s award of costs) in favor of firm client Darrick Figg in his personal injury case against the driver of a car that rear-ended him at 50 m.p.h. on Interstate 880 near San Jose.  Mr. Figg sustained soft-tissue injuries to his shoulder, neck and back, as well as a mild concussion (a traumatic brain injury), on impact.  Because the crash occurred while he was at work, Mr. Figg’s medical care came through the workers’ compensation system; those doctors never ordered MRIs of the back and shoulder.  MRIs taken after the the firm was retained showed internal injury to those areas.  The jury took less than half a day before reaching its verdict, awarding Mr. Figg over $500,000 for past and future medical costs and lost earnings, and $750,000 for past and future pain and suffering.  The jury’s award more than doubled what the defendants ever offered in settlement.  Judgment is expected to be entered soon.