State Farm Settles at Mediation

My Client, a long time college/youth minister, and his wife had done the impossible:

Their teenage children were the airport to see them off. They were very excited for their parents too. After years of family vacation, to the beach, mission trips and so forth, Mom and Dad were finally just going on their on, just for fun!

At the front of the airport, my client hops out and pops the trunk to get the bags. The family begins to get the smaller bags up front together. There is a sharp blow, and the family sedan lurches forward violently.

As the family exits, they saw a sight they could not have been prepared for…Dad was actually being crushed by a Mercedes… and he was not backing up!

The strapping 19 year old son, pounded the hood to get the defendant, age 74, to back up. My client's son was trying in vain to lift his Dad from the vise like grip of the two vehicles. His daughter, screaming, ran frantically to find someone to call 911.

My client's wife, also hit the hood and tried to get help.

The 19 old son held his Dad as he slipped into shock.

My client had suffered a broken fibula near the knee. He was also diagnosed with a torn ACL, but surgery was thought to do more damage than it was worth. He has been given a 16% rating LLE by the conservative Campbell Clinic. Medical bills approached $17,500.00

Claims were pressed against the insurance company for the Personal Injury, the wife's Loss of Consortium and three counts of Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress.

The claim was settled at mediation for $120,000.00.