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SKETCHES OF COURT: Defendant driver found liable in chain collision accident trial

January 11, 2018 By Alba Acevedo Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Court sketch by Alba Acevedo
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In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Wavny Toussaint listens as plaintiff’s attorney Peter Baron (standing), addresses the jury during his opening remarks in the motor vehicle accident trial Taylor v. Zambrano. At issue was the determination of damages.

Stanley Taylor, 57, claims to have been seriously injured in the accident. Taylor was in his car when it was rear-ended in a chain collision in September 2014. Liability was decided by summary judgment in favor of Taylor against defendant driver Jorge Zambrano, who was represented by Philip Saleh (at right), of the law office of Karen L. Lawrence.

Taylor alleged that a hard impact in the accident caused injuries to his neck and lower back. Saleh alleged that the injuries were related to a workplace assault that occurred before the accident and were not causally related to the accident.  Taylor works as a security guard at a juvenile detention facility.

Baron maintained that the cervical and lumbar spine injuries from the accident were unrelated to those from the assault when Taylor fractured his right index finger. Taylor maintains the assault injuries were resolved and that he had clearance to return to work.

The jury awarded Taylor damages in the amount of $100,000 as compensation for past pain and suffering, and $65,000 for future pain and suffering. Per prior high-low agreement, the award will be reduced to a cap of $45,000 in the trial that resolved last week in Kings County Civil Term.

 

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