Released on: September 24, 2008, 7:46 pm

Press Release Author: THE MAJLESSI LAW FIRM

Industry: Law

Press Release Summary: The Majlessi Law Firm Gets a Jury Award of $790,000 for a
Pedestrian

Press Release Body: The Majlessi Law Firm obtained a verdict of $790,000 for a
pedestrian who was hit by a car in a crosswalk. On November 5, 2003 at the
intersection of La Maida Street and Ventura Boulevard in the City of Encino,
Plaintiff was walking in the crosswalk on La Maida Street when he was struck by a
vehicle driven by Defendant at 20 miles per hour. On impact, Plaintiff was thrown
15 feet. Plaintiff experienced onset of pain to the back of his head, shoulder,
arm, and contusion to right lower limb. Plaintiff was transported by ambulance to
the ER of the Encino/Tarzana Regional Medical Center, where he underwent a series of
X-rays of the injured body parts and a CT scan of the brain. CT scan was negative
and Plaintiff was discharged. Plaintiff sought orthopedic and chiropractic care for
his orthopedic injuries and on November 26, 2003, consulted a neurologist reporting
occasional, severe headaches at the top and back of his head, as well as dizziness,
vertigo, nausea, loss of hearing and anxiety. Antivert 12.5 mg was prescribed to be
taken on an as-needed basis for dizziness. On January 15, 2004,
Electroencephalogram and Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Response Test were performed on
Plaintiff with normal results and no findings. On February 20, 2004, Plaintiff,
suffering from severe and intolerable headaches, went to the ER of USC Medical
Center. On the same day Plaintiff underwent a right frontal ventricular-peritoneal
shunting for hydrocephalus at the USC County Medical Center. The USC’s impression of
a CT scan taken on that day, before the surgery, was that the CT scan was showing
what appeared to be third ventricular neurocysticercosis cyst causing obstructive
hydrocehalus. The shunt was placed in the right frontal area and drained into
theperitoneum. USC’s diagnosis was that Plaintiff’s condition was due to a
cystericercosis, and therefore not related to trauma. Plaintiff was diagnosed with
cysticercosis in 1991 in Bolivia. Cysticercosis is an infection caused by the pork
tapeworm, Taenia solium. Infection occurs when the tapeworm larvae enter the body
and form cysticerci (cysts). When cysticerci are found in the brain, the condition
is called neurocysticercosis.
Plaintiff had cystericercosis for the past 12 years. Plaintiff had multiple cysts
in his brain, especially in the base of skull. His condition was treated in
Bolivia. He was stable and there were no evidence of hydrocephalus on the two CT
scans: those that were administered in Bolivia in 1991 and those that were
administered immediately after the accident at Encino/Tarzana Regional Medical
Center in 2003. Immediately after the accident, Plaintiff started experiencing
increasing headache and increasing changes in mental status, which pointed out that
the accident caused the dynamic of the cerebrospinal fluid flow to be somewhat
changed in his brain as a result of the accident, which eventually required him to
be shunted.
Plaintiff contended that the injury was caused by blunt head trauma due to the
vehicular impact causing communicating hydrocephalus as opposed to noncommunicating
hydrocephalous. Plaintiff’s expert (neurosurgeon) explained to the jury that as
opposed to noncommunicating hydrocephalous where the cerebrospinal fluid is
completely blocked, in communicating hydrocephalous the fluid makes it to the
outside of the brain but with difficulty and therefore day by day a few CC’s of the
fluid remains in the brain eventually causing hydrocephalous. This was the reason
that Plaintiff CT scan administered on the day of the accident at Encino/Tarzana
Regional Medical Center was negative, as the hydrocephalous occurred over time
subsequent to and as a result of the accident.
Defendant’s contention was in line with the USC’s diagnosis. Defendant disputed that
the need for the right frontal ventricular-peritoneal shunt surgery was in any way
related to the accident. Defendant contended that Plaintiff sustained only soft
tissue injuries.Prior to filing the lawsuit, Plaintiff demanded the Defendant’s
insurance policy limits of $25000. Defendant’s insurance failed to tender the
insurance policy limits within the allotted time by Plaintiff. After the lawsuit
was filed, at the mediation Defendant offered $50,000. On the first day of trial,
before the jury was empanelled, Defendant offered $125,000. Mr. Majlessi conducted
a six (6) days jury trial. The jury awarded Mr. Majlessi's client $790,000. The
Majlessi Law Firm is located in Beverly Hills, California, and is primarily focused
on handling personal injury matters. Mr. Majlessi law firm is located at:
THE MAJLESSI LAW FIRM
9454 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 701
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
(310) 724-6222
www.LegalMetro.com

Web Site: http://LegalMetro.com

Contact Details: THE MAJLESSI LAW FIRM
9454 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 701
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
(310) 724-6222
majlessi@legalmetro.com