Plaintiff was operating his motor vehicle through an intersection when he was suddenly and unexpectedly struck in the rear by an vehicle owned and operated by the City of New York. As a result of the accident, plaintiff sustained a herniated disc to his lumbar spine. Following a course of conservative care and treatment, plaintiff eventually underwent lumbar spine surgery. Defendants claimed the plaintiff stopped short and caused the accident. Defendants also claimed that plaintiff’s injuries were not caused by the accident and were degenerative in nature. In the alternative, defendants claimed plaintiff sustained a prior injury to his lumbar spine.
Judd F. Kleeger, Partner, settled this matter prior to trial for $1,200,000.