TT&H Attorney Sunny Lapera Wins Defense Verdict in Prince George’s County, Maryland Automobile Negligence Case

Attorney Sunny Lapera recently won a defense verdict following a half-day bench trial, which took place on December 6, 2023, in the District Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland.  The case involved claims of automobile negligence where both Plaintiff’s vehicle and Defendant’s tow truck were turning right after exiting a parking lot from a stop sign.  Both parties claimed that their respective vehicle had arrived at the stop sign first.

The Plaintiff filed suit alleging negligence on the part of the other driver, and vicarious liability on the part of his employer, seeking $30,000.00.  On the eve of trial, the Plaintiff was presented with a final and time-sensitive settlement offer of $7,000.00, which the Plaintiff rejected.  As the case involved a plaintiff who had a history of prior accidents with identical and/or similar injuries, the parties agreed to bifurcate the trial, to first determine the issue of liability before addressing the issue of the Plaintiff’s alleged damages.  At the close of the Plaintiff’s case, Attorney Lapera moved for judgment against the Plaintiff, arguing that the Plaintiff’s own testimony established her contributory negligence, therefore barring the Plaintiff from recovery as a matter of law. The Court declined to render judgment until the close of all the evidence but reconsidered the Motion at the close of the Defendant’s case. The Court ultimately found the Defendant driver’s testimony more credible, concluding that the Plaintiff attempted to complete a right turn when it was unsafe to do so.  Accordingly, notwithstanding the issue of primary negligence, the Plaintiff was barred from recovery under principles of contributory negligence.

Questions about this case can be directed to Sunny Chung Lapera at (443) 641-0567 or schung@tthlaw.com.