Case Results and Jury Verdicts

Settlement: $125,000

Patron vs. City

The client was playing tennis in a city park.  The city’s employee hit a rock while mowing the grass, causing the rock to fly up and strike the client’s hand.  The client sustained three fractured fingers.

Plaintiff Verdict: $5,101,829

Versus: Daimler Chrysler
Product Liability: Jeep Grand Cherokee v. Pedestrian

The client had suffered partial leg amputation; fractured leg; head and hand injuries; scars.

The jury determined that the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokees were not reasonably safe due to their design. Defendant, Daimler Chrysler was negligent for failing to retrofit the Jeep with a brake transmission shift interlock and failing to provide adequate warning after the Jeep was manufactured.

There are over 500 active runaway Jeep Cherokee injury and death cases nationally and this was the first, and so far the only, that has carried a jury verdict.

Daimler Chrysler's appeal was rejected at the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court levels; consequently, Buckley & Associates successfully forced Daimler Chrylser to pay the judgment, plus interest, for a net total exceeding $6 million dollars.

"$5.1 million accident judgment" - The Seattle Times

Settlement: $3,150,000

 Pedestrian vs. Motorist and the city of Seattle

 Pedestrian crossing the roadway in a marked crosswalk with a large pedestrian crossing sign with blinking yellow lights at 10th and Jackson was struck and killed by a vehicle.  The pedestrian’s wife and adult daughter sued the driver of the vehicle for negligence and the city of Seattle for failure to maintain the crosswalk in a reasonably safe condition.  The city paid $2.75 million and the driver’s insurer paid its $300,000 policy limits to settle the case.  Underinsured motorist insurance carrier paid its $100,000 underinsured motorist policy limits.

Settlement: $1,000,000

Versus: Dump Truck Driver & Employer
Head On Collision: Dump Truck v. Automobile

The client had suffered knee and leg injuries; fractured pelvis and ankle; post-traumatic stress disorder; emotional distress.

Settlement: $1,050,562

Versus: United Ocean Seafood et al
Head On Collision: Van v. Automobile

Client had suffered head injury; leg and arm injuries.

Settlement: $1,500,000

Pedestrian vs. Motorist

The client was walking in a crosswalk and was struck by a vehicle making a left turn.  The client was dragged underneath the vehicle for approximately 20 feet.  The driver contended that the client had crossed the street against the “do not walk” signal. 

The client suffered fractures to his arm, leg, knee, ribs and pelvis.  Case settled for $1.5 million insurance policy limit.

Settlement: $1,215,000 plus Confidential Settlement with Auto Manufacturer

Passenger vs. Driver and Auto Manufacturer

The client was a passenger in a vehicle that rolled over after her husband fell asleep at the wheel.  In the process of the rollover, the door on the client’s side came open.  The client sustained fractures to her hip and leg.  She also suffered open dislocation of her knee and laceration.  Auto manufacturer was sued for defective product.  Case settled with the auto manufacturer for confidential amount.  Insurer for driver and underinsured motorist coverage settled for their policy limits.

Settlement: $750,000

Pedestrian vs. Motorist and City

The client was crossing in a marked crosswalk at night and was struck by a vehicle.  The client sustained fractures to her neck, back, and leg.  The client also suffered a closed head injury.

Several prior pedestrian v. automobile accidents had occurred at the crosswalk, including two fatality accidents.  After the client’s accident, the city substantially rebuilt the intersection by installing lights, advance warning signs, and beacons.  The city denied liability until two days into the trial; then the city agreed to settle by paying $650,000.  The motorist’s insurer agreed to pay its $100,000 insurance policy limit.

Settlement: $697,500

Motorcyclist vs. Drunk Driver and Drinking Establishments

The client was rearended by a van driven by a drunk driver.  The client was thrown off his motorcycle from the impact and fractured his back.

The investigation revealed that the drunk driver was served drinks at two separate commercial establishments although he was visibly intoxicated.  According to the police, the blood alcohol content of the drunk driver after the accident ranged from .15 to .16.

Settlement: $750,000

Motorist vs. Motorist and Employer

The client was operating her vehicle and was rearended by another vehicle.  The client sustained a cervical disc herniation which required surgical repair.

Settlement: $570,000

Guest vs. Owner, Tenants, and Stairway Lift Manufacturer and Installer

The client tripped on a rail of a stairway lift.  The client sustained spinal chord compression injury and developed pressure sore ulcers.

Settlement: $500,000

Guest vs. Owner

The client was a guest of the defendant’s home.  The client fell 20 feet from the roof to the ground as he was starting to go down the ladder which the defendant had handled.

The client lost an eye from the accident.  The client also suffered from fractures to his back and face.  Insurance company settled by paying the homeowner’s $500,000 liability insurance policy limit.

Settlement: $337,500

Pedestrian vs. Motorist and Premise Owner

The client was walking toward her car in a parking lot and was struck by a vehicle.  The client fractured her back which healed within three months. The client also sustained neck injury and developed a lung infection.

Settlement: $675,000

Glider Plane Passenger vs. Glider Company and Glider Tow Hook Manufacturer

The client was a passenger of a glider that was being towed by a tow aircraft.  The glider unexpectedly released from the aircraft, plunged 180 feet off a cliff, and crashed nose down a steep embankment.  The client sustained a fractured back and fractures to an ankle and heel.

Settlement: $225,000

Motorist vs. Motorist

The client’s vehicle was struck when the defendant turned left into the client’s lane of travel.  The client sustained a torn rotator cuff injury.

Settlement: $270,000

Pedestrian vs. Motorist

The client was walking in a marked crosswalk and was struck by a vehicle.  The client sustained a mild closed head injury.  The driver’s insurer claimed that the client only suffered soft tissue injuries.

Settlement: $240,000

Motorist vs. Motorist

The defendant collided into the client’s vehicle head-on.  The client sustained a neck fracture and nerve injuries.

Settlement: $100,000

Passenger vs. Driver

The driver crossed the center line, striking the oncoming vehicle.  The client fractured his leg and teeth and sustained a head injury.  The insurance company settled for $50,000 in liability limits and another $50,000 in UIM limits.

Settlement: $260,000

Motorist v. Motorist

The client was injured when another vehicle came across a median on Interstate 5 and struck the client’s vehicle.  The client sustained a fractured eye socket and nose, lacerated spleen and liver and soft tissue injuries. 

UIM Arbitration: $100,076

Motorist vs. UIM Insurer

The client’s vehicle was rearended by an uninsured driver.  The client was an elite golfer who sustained an upper and low back strains, resulting in 5% permanent impairment.

Settlement: $228,000

Pedestrian vs. Motorist

The client was walking in a crosswalk, and was struck by a vehicle making a left turn.  The client fractured his leg and sustained nerve injury.

Settlement: $130,000

Patron vs. Restaurant

The client was walking in a restaurant’s parking lot, slipped and fell on snow covered ice.  The client fractured a wrist and required a surgery.

Settlement: $200,000

Patron vs. Recycling and Composting Facility

The client fell over the side of his truck when the defendant’s employee swung the client’s container to where the client was standing.  The client sustained a concussion and fractured his ribs and shoulder.

Settlement: $210,000

Patron vs. Restaurant

The client fell and broke her shoulder when she tried to open the door to exit a restaurant.  The investigation revealed that a partially rolled rug had blocked the door on prior occasions, making it not reasonably safe.

Verdict: $152,443

Motorist vs. Dump Truck Driver and Employer

The client’s vehicle was rearended by the defendants’ dump truck.  The client sustained soft tissue injuries to her back and neck and suffered from anxiety while driving.

Settlement: $164,160

Pedestrian vs. Motorist

The client was crossing a five-lane street and was struck in the center turn lane by a vehicle.  The driver contended that the client was wearing dark clothing and walked in front of the vehicle.  The client suffered wrist fracture that required surgery and reconstruction.

Settlement: $115,000

Motorist vs. Motorist

The client’s vehicle was rearended by another vehicle.  The client sustained herniated and protruding disc injuries. 

Settlement: $250,000

Passenger v. Motorist

The client was a passenger in a vehicle when it was rearended by another vehicle.  The accident flared up her bone infection which required surgery and hospitalization.

Settlement: $195,000

Passenger vs. Motorists

The client was a passenger in a vehicle when it was rearended by another vehicle.  The client was later involved in another rearend accident in less than three months.  The client sustained knee injuries and soft tissue injuries to neck and back.

Settlement: $300,000

Motorist v. Motorist

The client’s vehicle was rearended by another vehicle.  The client sustained herniated disc injuries.  Case settled for the defendant’s insurance policy limits.