RECENT NEWS
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Personal Injury Automobile/Motorcycle
January 10, 2006
In June 2003, Adam Erdly was operating his motorcycle when a vehicle operated by the Defendant turned in front of the motorcycle causing an accident.
As a result of the accident, Adam Erdly was life-flighted to the Geisinger Medical Center, where he remained an in-patient for 58 days. During the hospitalization, Adam Erdly was diagnosed with a Grade V Liver Laceration and a Grade IV Spleen Laceration, a left femur fracture, left distal tibia fibia fracture and left side facial fractures. He remained in a medicated coma condition for approximately 30 days. Upon discharge from the Geisinger Medical Center, he was transferred to the Health South Rehabilitational Hospital for nine days.
Upon discharge from Health South Rehabilitational Hospital, Adam Erdly returned to his home for an extended convalescence period that included the utilization of an external liver drain for approximately 18 months.
Prior to the accident, Adam Erdly was employed in a laborer position and the Vocational Expert determined lost wages of $45,654.43 and future earning capacity of $639,161.99. A disputed existed over to the recoverable medical bills. Plaintiff claimed that the recoverable medical totaled $823,907.00, while Defendant countered that the Act 6 value of the bills totaled approximately $465,000.00.
During discovery, the defense contended that the Plaintiff was comparatively negligent for speeding. Defense also contended that the Plaintiff was comparatively negligent for modifications he made to the motorcycle’s braking system. Finally, defense contended that the accident was a result of a design defect of the roadway.
The parties settled the case for a lump sum payment of $1,150,000.00 plus future payments totaling $500,000.00.
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October 12, 2007
Casale & Bonner, P.C. recently settled two (2) fire death claims resulting from an apartment house fire in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The liability coverage on the apartment house was limited to a total of $100,000.0. Clearly, this was insufficient to compensate for the deaths. Casale & Bonner, P.C. investigated for any other source to compensate for the losses. The investigation was hampered by an ongoing criminal investigation. The cause of the fire was classified as “undetermined” and access to the property and information with regard to the criminal investigation withheld by authorities.
Surviving tenant possible witnesses’ whereabouts were unknown. Searches for witnesses, initially provide fruitless. Finally, as a result of voluminous discovery techniques, including procuring bank account records of the apartment house owner, information vital to successful prosecution of the death claims was obtained.
Search efforts led to finding tenant witnesses. These witnesses led to a determination of feasible claims against a professional liability insurance policy of an alleged caretaker of the apartments. Further discovery resulted in provable responsibility for defective conditions which increased the potential harm to tenants in the event of a fire.
The efforts and results set forth led to successfully convincing the professional liability carrier to tender a significant settlement offer. In the end, the family members of the deceased victims received appropriate compensation in excess of half a million dollars.
Casale & Bonner, P.C. is committed to tirelessly seek all avenues of possible responsibility to fully compensate our clients.