PSR attorneys Brian Panish, Tom Schultz, Andrew Schrader, and Diana Panish obtained a $34.1 million jury verdict in San Bernardino County for an elderly pedestrian who suffered severe injuries after being struck while on the sidewalk by a vehicle driven by an Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Co-Founder who ran a red light. Plaintiff was also represented in the matter by co-counsel, Lalit Kundani of Bridge Law, LLP.
“Our client’s life—and the lives of his family—has been forever changed by the careless actions of the defendant,” said Brian Panish. “We are grateful to the jury for delivering a just verdict that will ensure he receives the round-the-clock care and rehabilitation he so desperately needs.”
On the morning of August 7, 2023, Defendant Luo was driving in a professional capacity for her two companies when she failed to stop at a red light, made an unsafe right turn, and collided with a truck that had the right-of-way. The impact caused Luo to lose control of her vehicle, which then jumped the curb and struck Plaintiff, who was walking on the sidewalk during his daily 1.6-mile morning walk to get coffee. The violent collision was captured on surveillance video.
Plaintiff sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and multiple orthopedic injuries, requiring several surgeries and ongoing medical treatment. Once an independent and active father and grandfather, he is now unable to care for himself and has been residing at Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, where he receives 24-hour care.
Defendants Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc., International Medication Systems, Ltd., and Dr. Mary Zi-Ping Luo (the defendant driver who is also the companies’ Chairwoman/COO/Chief Scientist/Co-Founder) admitted liability before trial, leaving the jury to determine the amount of damages to award the 80-year-old Plaintiff.
During the three-week trial, Plaintiff’s counsel presented evidence that their client’s injuries have caused permanent cognitive and physical impairments, requiring lifelong inpatient medical care and rehabilitation and profound pain and suffering. The defense argued that Plaintiff had experienced cognitive decline several years before the accident, his activities before the collision were limited given his age, he had made significant progress from his injuries, and he had a relatively good prognosis.
Following two days of deliberation, the jury awarded Plaintiff $34,146,940 including $14,146,940 for past and future medical expenses and $20,000,000 in non-economic damages to compensate him for his pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.