One summer morning in San Jose, California, a father and his four-year-old son eagerly prepared for a family trip to a San Francisco 49ers training camp session. Adorned in scarlet and gold, they met with the rest of the family at a relative’s home — the child’s great uncle. The boy noticed his great uncle’s large English Bulldog and went over to pet it. Without warning, the dog leapt at the boy and mauled his face, nearly missing his left eye and disfiguring him permanently. David Scopp of Harris Personal Injury Lawyers represented the boy and attained a $725,000 settlement using a DK Global animation. The visual demonstrative reconstructed the attack, followed by an overview of his client’s damages showing an age-progression simulation of the boy’s mangled appearance as he grew.
Immediately after the attack, blood poured down the boy’s face as his father rushed him to the nearest emergency room. Doctors performed a complex emergency repair of his left cheek, sealing the large lacerations and avulsions around his eyelid. As the boy recovered, doctors informed his parents that his tear duct and mandibular nerve were severed, resulting in permanent scarring, paralysis, and an asymmetrical smile.
The boy’s parents filed a claim against their relative’s insurer, seeking compensatory damages for their son’s permanent injuries and future medical care. Disappointingly, the insurance carrier returned with a mere $10,000 offer. As a result, the boy’s parents consulted with David Scopp on the best legal recourse to take. They were concerned about obtaining justice for their son while preserving their family relationship. David assured them of a smooth process and filed their demand. Shortly after, the Defense increased its offer to $125,000.
However, given the boy’s blemishes and marred smile, David knew that amount was not enough. The boy’s scars would wreck his confidence in school, impact his romantic interests, and remind him of the traumatic experience in every photo taken. As David prepared for mediation, he retained a cosmetic surgeon who testified how the severed mandibular nerve disfigured the boy’s smile. Then, David and his expert worked with DK Global to illustrate the gravity of the boy’s injuries with a reconstruction of the attack and an age-progression animation.
The animation began with a photo of the boy smiling excitedly in his 49ers jersey just before the attack. Next, a 3D model of his likeness was created, showing him seated next to the English Bulldog. Instantly, the family Bulldog became aggressive and attacked the boy, piercing the left side of his face with its canines. Then, the boy’s injuries displayed: his severed right mandibular nerve, causing paralysis and a disfigured smile; the gruesome, torn tissues across his lower eyelid; the stellate laceration on his tongue; the list went on. Finally, an age-progression animation showed the boy’s future struggle grappling with his self-confidence and appearance due to his scars.
David shared the animation with the Defendant’s insurer during mediation and secured a $725,000 settlement for the boy, compensating him for his traumas and aiding him in his future medical care.
David Scopp is an attorney at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers and has advocated for survivors of traumatic injuries for over 14 years. As a former defense attorney for insurance companies, he uses his experience to attain well-deserved compensation and justice for his clients. In 2015 and 2016, David was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers while maintaining an excellent rating on Avvo.
