Three Decorah-based lawyers win a $31 million jury verdict in Bakersfield, California

Decorah-based attorneys Nicholas Rowley, Daniel Rodriguez, and Alejandro Blanco of Trial Lawyers for Justice have won a record jury verdict in a trial in Bakerfield, California.

The $31 million verdict in favor of the plaintiffs is said to be the largest personal injury verdict ever in Kern County, California.

The case involved 16-year-old Rosie Landeros, who was driving to the movies with her sister, 25-year-old Marta Landeros, on June 14, 2007.

The defendant, Gustavo Davalos Torres, ran a stop sign and struck the Landeros' car, causing Rosie to have a brain injury and resulting foot drop paralysis and residual brain injury problems. Toxicology tests found Torres to have been driving with a blood alcohol content of .16, twice the legal limit.

At the trial defense lawyers claimed that Torres was suffering from a diabetic coma, but the jury rejected that defense.

After a day of deliberations the jury returned a verdict of over $31 million dollars in favor of the plaintiff. The jury awarded over $8 million in economic damages (medical expenses and lost earnings) and over $22 million in non-economic damages.

The insurance company which must pay the award is expected to appeal the verdict, which could drag out the case another two years.