When a careless driver made an illegal left turn, she struck a 41-year-old man who was lawfully crossing the intersection. His left meniscus tore, and he was thrown to the ground, inflicting a mild traumatic brain injury. Although this leg injury was considered relatively minor by the Defendant’s insurance carrier, the initial trauma developed into a painful and debilitating disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is an incurable condition dubbed “the suicide disease.” It causes the body’s nerve receptors to deliver disproportionate pain signals to the brain without stimuli.
After being hit, the man was taken to a nearby hospital where his knee injury was treated. Unfortunately, his discomfort worsened. Doctors diagnosed the man with CRPS after careful examination. To alleviate his symptoms, he underwent an invasive procedure where surgeons implanted a spinal cord stimulator in his back to counter the body’s nerve impulses. Sadly, the treatment was unsuccessful. He continued to need alternative methods to relieve his pain. As he healed from surgery, he retained an attorney who filed a demand letter to the Defendant’s insurance, seeking the $1.5 million policy limit for the permanent disruption to his life.
The Defendant’s insurance carrier admitted liability but fervently disputed the Plaintiff’s injuries. They argued his meniscal tear was pre-existing. Moreover, they stated there was no evidence of a traumatic brain injury or CRPS, valuing the case at an underwhelming $100,000. A year and a half later, Danielle Lincors and Arash Homampour of The Homampour Law Firm were referred to help the Plaintiff recover compensation.
Danielle and Arash reinforced the final demand letter, giving the carrier a clear opportunity to settle the case. After their demand expired, Arash and Danielle asserted the policy was now open. They stated their client’s catastrophic and complex injuries accounted for damages much larger than the policy limit.
To maximize their case’s value, Danielle and Arash needed to present causation and the nature of their client’s injuries to the adverse party. Additionally, to quantify the impacts of their client’s damages, they needed to accurately present the surgical procedures performed. Danielle and Arash brought together DK Global and their retained medical experts. The team created an animation that effectively explained CRPS and the standard surgery needed to treat its symptoms.
The animation began by carefully defining CRPS. Then, it described how the Plaintiff’s nervous system created pain impulses from his left leg after the accident. Once these signals reached the brain, the sympathetic nervous system around his leg was activated, causing a burning sensation and inflammation. Next, the presentation detailed how these ongoing and agonizing sensations caused corresponding cognitive deficits, including anxiety and depression. Finally, the Plaintiff’s surgery was depicted, showing the careful placement of the spinal cord stimulator along his backbone.
With patience, resolve, and a comprehensive presentation, Danielle and Arash declined the Defense’s offers of $500,000, $1.5 million, and $5 million. On the eve of trial, they agreed to settle the case for $20 million.
Arash Homampour was named one of the “top 30 Plaintiff attorneys in California” by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He was recognized among the “top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers” for the seventh year in a row in 2018. As a successful trial attorney, he has achieved remarkable results, totaling over half a billion dollars against countless private and public entities for his clients.
CAALA member Danielle Lincors represents survivors of catastrophic injuries with her knowledge and experience gained as a former insurance defense attorney. She represents clients involved in wrongful death matters, product liability, premises liability, and specializes in personal injury cases.
