March 2022, Los Angeles County. Admitted liability case with a corporate defendant and a plaintiff in his 70’s. Defendant’s commercial truck totaled plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed neck and back pain, received numerous epidurals, and then three spine surgeries, with medical bills over $1,000,000, and another $1,000,000 in future medical bills. Offered $700,000 more than a year before trial. Plaintiff’s counsel was recognized nationally as one of the finest trial attorneys in the country. At mediation, the mediator stated, “in your next report, you can put down in bold, underlined, that plaintiff’s counsel will try this case, and will NEVER accept anything under $3,000,000.” On the third day of trial, the case settled for $725,000.
