On March 19, 2025, a Los Angeles County jury at the Beverly Hills Courthouse returned a verdict in a personal injury case where Colman Perkins Law Group partners James Perkins and John Haramalis defended their client as the at-fault driver in an automobile collision.  Plaintiff’s attorneys closed their case asking the jury to deliver a verdict of $8.2 Million. Instead, the jury awarded $350,000, the exact amount that our team asked the jury to award. 

Before and during trial, plaintiff’s counsel threatened a “bad faith” action after his demand for $2.25 million was refused, against our refused offer of $1.25 million.  The verdict of $350,000 was a loss to plaintiff of $900,000. 

Plaintiff’s Contentions

Our client was at fault in causing a 34 mph head-on impact to plaintiff’s vehicle.  Plaintiff proceeded with two spine surgeries, submitted $600,000 in medical bills, and claimed permanent partial disability. 

Our Contentions at Trial

The CPLG team argued that plaintiff’s claimed injuries were exaggerated and partially pre-existed the accident. We also contended that:

• The two surgeries were not necessary.
• A future lumbar fusion or disc replacement was not necessary.
• The claimed future medical costs of $500,000 were both unnecessary and more than ten times the going rate.
• The traffic accident did not cause the extent of physical pain and mental suffering claimed.

Both sides retained and presented experts, including accident reconstruction, biomechanical, medical and billing, all of whom testified at trial or had portions of their videotaped depositions played to the jury. We supported our case with live testimony from our biomechanical expert, a neurosurgeon, and a medical billing expert, as well as two treating non-lien physicians who saw plaintiff soon after the car accident.

The Closing Arguments

During closing arguments, plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award $8.2 million, which included compensatory damages, future medical care, and past and future pain and suffering.

The CPLG Defense Team recommended a verdict of no more than $350,000.

After 4 hours of deliberation the jury returned a verdict of $350,000 in total compensation, the exact amount recommended by the defense, and which was less than 5% of plaintiff’s requested amount.