Auto Accident Cases Handled by Greg Hill & Associates

Greg Hill & Associates, unlike many other criminal defense firms, also has a history of defending those involved in civil cases arising out of automobile accidents. The summary below presents some of those cases. In all cases, Greg Hill of Greg Hill & Associates, served as counsel for defendant.

1. Thomas v. Storetrieve, Inc., et al., Case Number SC085226, Los Angeles Superior Court (Santa Monica). Automobile accident. Key issues were apportionment of damages to pre-existing psychological conditions and failure to mitigate damages. Plaintiff claimed over $6 million in past and future lost earnings as an attorney. Settled for $650,000 after Plaintiff correctly suspected we had significant impeachment material on both her and one of her six experts. Plaintiff's settlement demands decreased from $6 million to $650,000 in a final mediation just before trial. Greg Hill was lead defense counsel for Storetrieve, Inc., and its employee, driver Mr. Flores.
   
   
2. Marsh v. Coon. Case Number YC048933, Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance). Automobile accident where car struck an illegally parked vehicle. Plaintiff had over $500,000 in medical specials. Key issues were negligence per se and causation. Plaintiff dismissed her case one day prior to the court ruling Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment on Duty and Causation. Greg Hill was lead defense counsel.
   
   
3. Crane v. Cal-Trans, et al., Case Number BC 267659, Los Angeles Superior Court (Santa Monica). Automobile accident involving negligence, governmental immunities, products liability and design defect allegations. Key issues were exclusivity of workers compensation as Plaintiff's remedy (with collateral issues of independent contractor versus employee), dangerous road design and governmental immunity, as well as adequacy of warnings on a product. Plaintiff rendered a high level quadriplegic. Case settled for a total of $18.5 million after liability portion of bifurcated trial ended. Trial involved over 100 motions in limine and 45 experts due to complicated medical issues and loss of earnings issues. Greg Hill's client paid $2 million. Greg Hill was lead counsel.
   
   
4. Pankowski v. St. George Ford, Case Number SCVSS 099772. San Bernardino Superior Court (Central Division). Automobile accident with product liability allegations. Plaintiff had over $500,000 in medical specials and involved depositions in four states. Key issues were ANSI standards, as well as causation. Greg Hill lead counsel throughout.
   
   
5. Geico v. Prieto, Case Number 311535, Riverside County Superior Court. Claim for fraud in receiving Uninsured Motorist benefits from an underlying automobile accident and severe injuries. John Hill and Greg Hill represented Geico through a four week trial that ended in a nonsuit granted for defendants.
   
   
6. Thompson v. Polischeck, Case Number YC048841, Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance). Automobile versus motorcycle involving negligence. Key issues were admissibility of out-of-state witness testimony elicited through an improper subpoena, statutory violations by Plaintiff, and apportionment of damages. Case arbitrated with Plaintiff being awarded just $60,000, a result far less than his final offer of $1 million. Greg Hill was lead counsel.
   
   
7. McClellan v. Shin, Case Number YC044128, Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance). Bicycle v. pedestrian involving negligence. Key issues were reasonableness of Plaintiff's multiple surgeries costing approximately $65,000 and Plaintiff's comparative negligence. Case arbitrated. Defense award. Greg Hill was lead counsel.
   
   
8. Brewer v. Rizzo's Pizzeria, Case Number YC032606, Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance). Car accident with mostly soft-tissue injuries, but medical specials of approximately $20,000. Key issues were Plaintiff's failure to mitigate damages. Case tried before a jury to verdict of only Plaintiff's medical specials (no pain and suffering). Plaintiff's post-trial motions for inconsistent verdict and additur denied. Greg Hill second-chaired trial.
   
   
9. Clay v. U.S. Foodservice, Inc., Case Number unavailable. Los Angeles Superior Court (Pomona). Wrongful death case. Key issues were each Plaintiff's standing to bring wrongful death and survival actions. Case dismissed upon Defense motion for summary judgment on this issue. Greg Hill lead defense counsel.
   
   
10. Stewart v. Hertz, et al., Case Number YC046297. Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance - Redondo Beach). Passenger in bus injured lower leg while exiting the bus. Key issues were comparative negligence by Plaintiff, who parked her bus over a dangerous area and then exited the bus while talking on a cell phone and carrying large objects that obstructed her view of the ground. Plaintiff sought $4 million dollars in closing argument at trial. The jury awarded her $755,000. Various defense post-trial motions for new trial and remititur denied. Greg Hill lead defense counsel.
    
    
11. Jeffers v. General Motors, Case Number BC 290471. Los Angeles Superior Court (Downtown Los Angeles). Wrongful death matter involving the death of a 9 year old boy in a roll-over of a GMC Tahoe in Baja California, Mexico. Greg Hill was lead counsel defending a windshield repair company. Settled for $15,000 during mediation while motion for summary judgment on causation pending.
    
    
12. Lewis v. Barry, Case Number 04C00947. Los Angeles Superior Court (Santa Monica). Case involved soft-tissue injuries only. Settled for $7,500 on first day of trial. Key issues were the severity of Plaintiff's injuries. Liability also disputed. Greg Hill lead counsel throughout.
    
    
13. Blaylock v. Toobi, Case Number 03T00942. Los Angeles Superior Court (Santa Monica). Case involved soft-tissue injuries only. Defendant passed out while driving due to involuntary intoxication from GHB ("date rape drug"). Case settled at mediation for $3,500, which was less than plaintiff's medical expenses. Greg Hill lead counsel throughout.
    
    
14. Abshire v. Medina, Case Number NC041529. Los Angeles Superior Court (Long Beach). Truck versus motorcycle, with multiple surgeries to Plaintiff. Key issues were Plaintiff's speed and driving his motorcycle in a parking lane. Case settled after two mediations and just prior to trial for $150,000, representing approximately twice of Plaintiff's specials. Greg Hill lead counsel throughout.
    
    
15. Castro v. Door & Window Plus, et al. Case Number CIV 240501. Ventura County Superior Court (Ventura). Wrongful death action involving seven decedents and one quadriplegic, governmental immunities and negligence. Greg Hill retained just two days after accident and coordinated receipt of MAIT and SWITTRS reports.
    
    
16. Carter v. Campbell, Case Number NC035854. Los Angeles Superior Court (Long Beach). Truck versus pedestrian. Key issues were Plaintiff's comparative negligence. Case settled just prior to trial for less than half of Plaintiff's medical specials. Greg Hill lead counsel throughout.
    
    
17. Schlageter v. Yoshiyama, Case Number SB05C00171. Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance). Minor accident on freeway offramp obscured by fog. Key issues were Plaintiff's credibility surrounding her injuries, if any, as well as the reasonableness of the medical charges. Case settled at mediation for $9,000. Greg Hill was lead counsel throughout.
    
    
18. Musso v. Rivera, et al., Case Number 06CC06272. Orange County Superior Court. Wrongful death of a locally popular high school football star and severe physical injuries involving four vehicles. Greg Hill retained one day after the accident. Key issues were limited use or derivative use immunity and admissibility of certain evidence involved in a parallel criminal proceeding brought against Greg Hill's client in the civil matter.
    
    
19. Desando v. Chu, Case Number SC074906. Los Angeles Superior Court (Santa Monica). Multi-vehicle, high speed traffic accident on freeway wherein Plaintiff left her vehicle and was injured as a pedestrian. Key issues were comparative negligence (and causation of injuries), assumption of the risk, as well as apportionment of damages to pre-existing conditions. Case settled after several mediations for $55,000, well below Plaintiff's medical specials.
    
    
20. Valmeo, et al. v. Okubo, et al. Case Number 04C02850. Los Angeles Superior Court (Torrance). Minor injuries, rear-end auto accident. Defendant improperly served. Greg Hill filed Motion to Quash, which was granted. Defendant then moved to Japan before proper service could be effected. Case dismissed when Plaintiff's counsel failed to attempt service through The Hague.

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