Zausmer shareholder James Wright demonstrated his superior litigation talents with a recent victory in a first-party no-fault trial.
The plaintiff claimed that she sustained bodily injury as the result of an automobile accident in December 2013. She sued her insurance carrier in Macomb County Circuit Court to recover no-fault PIP benefits, alleging that she sustained a disc herniation and a closed head injury that required 24-hour attendant care.
Represented by one of metropolitan Detroit’s most visible personal injury firms, the plaintiff demanded nearly $400,000 in damages that, with fees, would have subjected the carrier to a total exposure of $520,000. Convinced that she lacked proof for her claims, Jim offered a $25,000 settlement, which the plaintiff rejected. The matter proceeded to case evaluation where a panel recommended a $50,000 award, which the plaintiff also declined.
As the trial date neared, the plaintiff made a final, unsuccessful demand of $150,000.
At trial, Jim argued that the alleged claims were unfounded, and the jury agreed, returning a verdict in the insurer’s favor. Because she previously rejected the case evaluation award, the plaintiff now faces thousands of dollars in sanctions, further enhancing Jim’s impressive victory on behalf of our client.
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