L.A. Jury Awards $42.4 Million to Woman Suffering TBI And Catastrophic Injuries After Head-On Collision
Los Angeles, CA – A Lancaster jury awarded $42.4 million to a woman who has been in a coma since June of 2015 after she was involved in a head-on collision. With interest, the total judgment will be $55 million.
According to the complaint, Diana Estevez was married with a young son and pregnant on June 1, 2015, and just two months shy of completing her nursing degree. She was driving her car in Lancaster when Gregory Kadlec, a maintenance supervisor at Edwards Air Force Base who was driving in the other direction, drifted across the double yellow lines and headed directly toward Diana.
Earlier in the day, Kadlec had taken opioid pain relievers Norco and Nucynta as well as a handful of blood pressure and diabetes medications. Diana was wearing her seatbelt, but it provided no protection as the front left wheel of Kadlec’s Ford Explorer rolled into the hood of her car, down the length of her vehicle, running over Diana. She suffered massive head and facial injuries, including skull and facial fractures, and a severe traumatic brain injury. She has been in a coma ever since, and her doctors predict she will never awaken.
The jury voted unanimously, 12-0, on every issue in the case. The lead trial attorney was Ricardo Echeverria of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP who offered a 998 claim three years ago for $29 million. The resulting interest led to the total $55 million judgment. Samuel Bruchey was the other attorney representing Ms. Estevez.
At the hospital after the crash, Kadlec consented to a blood test. The results came back positive for opioids and barbiturates. Kadlec was charged with violating Cal. Vehicle Code section 23152(f), driving under the influence of drugs, and entered a plea of “no contest” to that charge.
“Diana’s future was taken away from her because Gregory Kadlec chose to take a series of pharmaceuticals and then operate a vehicle which any logical person understands is a terrible idea,” Mr. Echeverria said. “Diana’s medical expenses have already exceeded $3 million, and while she’ll never awaken from her coma, she’s likely to live several more years. This verdict will go a long way toward helping her loved ones provide the best around-the-clock care for her.”
The case is Diana Estevez v. Gregory Kadlec, Jolie Kadlec, Takata Corporation, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. MC026448.
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