A pedestrian who suffered permanent brain damage after being struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk near Hollywood Boulevard in September 2002 won a verdict against the city of Los Angeles last week for $11.87 million, one of the larger jury awards against the city.
Alice Mowatt, then a 19 year old British student visiting the U.S., was hit by a sport utility vehicle as she tried to cross.
The pedestrian accident caused Mowatt to suffer from a loss of memory, some cognitive functions, and her senses of smell and taste. Attorneys for Mowatt say she also requires a caretaker.
The L.A. County Superior Court jury found that the city of Los Angeles had jurisdiction over the crosswalk and that the city knew the crosswalk was dangerous and should have fixed it.
The personal injury lawsuit was filed against the state of California, the city of Los Angeles, and the driver of the vehicle. The jury awarded the victim more than $18 million in damages, but she will get a lesser amount because of earlier settlements in the case.
Over the last three years, however, the city has reduced the amounts it has paid to resolve lawsuits. The total was $50.4 million in 2003, $44.5 million in 2004 and $28.2 million in 2005.
Reference:
"Accident Victim Is Awarded Millions," Los Angles Times, Steve Hymon, March 2006.
