On Feb. 12, 2010, Sylvia Castillo was driving southbound on Ashland Avenue in Chicago when the defendant, Kidane Kuentu, ran a red light at the intersection while driving westbound on Taylor Street. This caused a collision that injured Castillo. Castillo, 33, was an assistant manager who sustained a fracture of the distal humerus in the right arm. She received treatment at an emergency room and then later received chiropractic/physical therapy to rehabilitate her right arm. The defendant admitted liability, but contested the extent of the damages claimed by Castillo.
The demand to settle the case before trial was $175,000. The offer to settle before the beginning of the trial was $30,000 made on behalf of Kuentu. The jury was asked to return a verdict of $344,488 by Castillo’s attorney, Jeremy D. Lee.
The Cook County jury’s verdict of $74,487 was made up of the following damages:
- $19,487 for medical expenses;
- $27,000 for pain and suffering; and
- $27,000 for loss of normal life;
It should be noted that the only medical evidence submitted by Castillo for her care and treatment was the emergency room treatment and the chiropractic/physical therapy.
Sylvia Castillo v. Kidane Kuentu, No. 11 L 5266 (Cook County, Ill.).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling automobile accidents, intersection crashes and truck accidents cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Lombard, Westchester, Bellwood, Melrose Park, River Forest, Glendale Heights, Wheaton, Woodridge, Burr Ridge, Justice, Palos Hills, Chicago Ridge, Chicago (River North, Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights), Maywood and Northlake, Ill.
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