Source: http://thpersonalinjury.blogspot.com/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 20:02:55+00:00

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We hope that through the use of this blog, we can reach out to our community to provide the latest news, interesting facts and other useful information for those seeking guidance regarding their personal injury matters.
Many lawyers nowadays have arbitration clauses in their retainer agreements, whereby the Clients agree that any dispute that may arise out of the lawyers' representation of the clients shall be submitted to arbitration. However, a recent case from the 4th District Court of Appeal puts a new wrinkle on the enforceability of such clauses. Depending on the circumstances, the lawyer seeking to compel arbitration may have to pay the arbitration costs to enforce that provision.
In Roldan v. Callahan & Blaine (4th Dist. 2013) 219 Cal. App.4th 87, 161 Cal.Rptr.3d 493, the Plaintiffs (former clients) filed suit against their former lawyers based upon a claim that the settlement they reluctantly agreed to in the underlying action was inadequate. The lawyers successfully moved to compel arbitration based upon an arbitration clause in the attorney retainer agreement. The plaintiffs then filed a motion in the trial court seeking an order compelling the lawyers to advance the entire upfront cost of the arbitration, which the trial court denied.
The appellate court reversed and remanded for the trial court to: 1) calculate the reasonable cost of the arbitration previously ordered; 2) determine whether the plaintiffs are financially able to pay their share of the anticipated costs; and 3) if any of the plaintiffs are unable to pay, issue an order specifying that the lawyers have the option of either paying or else waiving their right to arbitrate.Thus, the Appellate Court basically said that if the Court determines that clients cannot afford the costs of the arbitration, the attorneys' option is to pay "full freight" or waive the right to arbitration and proceed to trial in court.
This case is significant because the court invoked a "public policy" exception to compelling indigent clients to arbitrate. Despite a recent spate of cases from the US Supreme Court holding that Courts should "rigorously enforce" arbitration agreements, this California case seems to impose limits on the enforceability of arbitration provisions, similar to the holding in Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83, 6 P.3d 669, 99 Cal.Rptr.2d 745, in the employment agreement context.
Thus, the Court in Howell appeared to uphold (or at least not reject) the rulings of lower appellate courts that held that it was proper for trial courts to simply admit the "full value" medical bills and then reduce the amount of a plaintiff's recovery by post-trial motion, as recognized in Olsen v. Reid (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 200, 204 and Greer v. Buzgheia (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1150, 1157.
Although Howell, supra, 52 Cal.4th 541, did not directly so hold, we are persuaded by the carefully considered reasoning in Howell, and therefore do hold that evidence of the full amount billed for a plaintiff's medical care is not relevant to the determination of a plaintiff's damages for past medical expenses, and therefore is inadmissible for that purpose if the plaintiff's medical providers, by prior agreement, had contracted to accept a lesser amount as full payment for the services provided.
Further, the Corenbaum court held that billed amounts for past medical expenses are not relevant in determining future medical expenses, or for any other purpose.
As we have explained, the full amount billed for past medical services is not relevant to a determination of the damages for either past or future medical services if the medical providers had agreed to accept a lesser amount as full payment. We conclude that evidence of the full amount billed is not admissible for the purpose of providing plaintiff's counsel an argumentative construct to assist a jury in its difficult task of determining the amount of noneconomic damages and is inadmissible for the purpose of proving noneconomic damages.
This decision is clearly another clear victory for the personal injury defense bar, on the issue of recoverable damages in injury cases. However, despite the restrictions imposed on the admissibility of evidence related to "amounts billed," it would appear that experts can still offer opinions on the "reasonable" costs of future medical care, provided that such opinuions are not based on amounts previously billed by a plaintiff's prior medical providers.
For attorneys, does aggressive equal effective? I was just reading an article entitled "Is An 'Aggressive' Lawyer An 'Effective' Lawyer? (the link is here, and it's a good read-http://benchandbarllc.com/aggressivelawyer/?goback=%2Egde_42966_member_224263744) that posited that exact question. This topic may wander a bit from the supposedly subject specific nature of a personal injury blog, but since it got me thinking about my personal injury practice in general, I thought I'd add my perspective.
My take on the question: if "aggressive" means shedding the bounds of civility, then I think the answer is no.
Sure, there are times, especially in the face of a hyper "aggressive" opposing counsel where we need to respond, and the first impulse when mud is flung your way is to fling it back. But I believe the better approach is to be "diligent" and thorough (in other words, how I prefer to handle every case) than to "respond in kind." This practice philosophy is one that I developed from 2 very different sources.
As a 1st or 2nd year lawyer, I was given a piece of advice from one of my mentors, and one of the truly best trial lawyers I know, and that advise has stuck: "never motivate your opposition." First impressions with an opposing attorney can set the stage for how you deal with counsel throughout the case. Hitting the "jerk button" from the get-go can only serve to motivate your opposing counsel. (Don't you feel and extra "edge" to be an opponent who was a jerk?) On the other hand, laying a foundation for respect and cooperation early on can pay dividends sown the road. Don't get me wrong; once my opponent and I "step through the ropes," it's on, but let's do so with some measure of respect.
(2) if the "jerk" you're dealing with is just built that way, his/her end game is to make you miserable too. If you give every outward indication that he/she did not get to you, you've frustrated their purpose. And, can't you take some satisfaction in that?
Bottom line: when I get ready for and start trial, I want to (and do) kick some tail. But along the road to getting there, I prefer to act like a gentleman. And I've got the steady blood pressure history to prove it.
A recent case out of the 5th District Court of Appeal has held that a “joint” offer of compromise to multiple plaintiffs in a wrongful death action was valid. In McDaniel v. Asuncion (Cal. App. Fifth Dist.; March 27, 2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1201, the Court determined that there was sufficient “unity of interest” between 2 heirs of a deceased that a single offer to them both was adequate.
The 5th District then pointed out that under California law, either the heirs or the personal representative on behalf of the heirs may bring a single joint indivisible action for wrongful death. (Smith v. Premier Alliance Ins. Co. (1995) 41 Cal.App.4th 691, 696 (Smith).) Any recovery for wrongful death is in the form of a lump sum, i.e., a single verdict is rendered for all recoverable damages. (Smith, supra, 41 Cal.App.4th at pp. 696-697; San Diego Gas, supra, 146 Cal.App.4th at p. 1551.
If you are a fan of bumper cars and other "thrill rides" at amusement parks, be careful. You may not be able to sue if that extra bumping leaves you with an injury. On December 31, 2012, the California Supreme Court ruled that amusement parks cannot be sued for injuries that occur in rides such as bumper cars, finding that such thrill-seeking carries an "inherent risk" just like playing a sport.
The issue presented was whether an amusement-park operator must take reasonable, or even utmost, precautions to protect patrons from injuries associated with bumper-car “bumps”? According to the California Supreme Court, the answer is "No."
In the case of Nalwa v. Cedar Fair, LLP, a decision filed December 31, 2012, the California Supreme Court ruled that the doctrine of "primary assumption of the risk" barred a plaintiff's claims of injury resulting from a "bumper car" accident.
The Supreme Court, however, reversed the Court of Appeal, concluding that the primary assumption of risk doctrine, though most frequently applied to sports, applies as well to certain other recreational activities including bumper car rides. The Court further concluded that the doctrine applied to the ride in that case, even though amusement parks are subject to state safety regulations and even though, as to some rides, park owners owe participants the heightened duty of care of a common carrier for reward.
As Personal Injury Lawyers, and ones who deal with car accidents and the vehicle code on a regular basis, we here at T&H try to keep up with new driving laws as they come into effect, as those new statutes can sometimes significantly affect your case. Though not all of these are directly related to "PI" cases, the following are some of the new code sections or bills that have come into effect as of January 1, 2012, that you all might be interested in.
AB 1105 prohibits vehicles from crossing double parallel solid white lines in California, except where expressly permitted.
Vehicle Code Section 23579 has been added to the California Vehicle Code, which authorizes courts to revoke a driver's license for 10 years if a person is convicted of three or more DUIs. Motorists may apply for reinstatement of their license with the DMV after five years, if the driver installs an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in their vehicle.
AB 520 allows California drivers convicted of reckless driving under Vehicle Code Section 23103.5 to apply for a restricted driver's license prior to the completion of their one-year suspension if they meet specific conditions, such as the installation of Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicle.
AB 353 prohibits law enforcement officers from impounding a vehicle for 30 days at a DUI checkpoint if the only offense is failing to hold a valid driver license.
According to a recent report in Consumer Reports (link below), the FDA has issued a warning regarding certain weight loss aids. The 20 different supplements are said to contain sibutramine, the active ingredient in weight-loss medication Meridia, previously found to substantially increase blood pressure and heart rate and also linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. It was removed from the U.S. market in October 2010.
The Consumer Reports account further notes that the FDA has recommended that the public steer clear of such supplements. We agree. Our lawyers have long advised against using weight-loss supplements because the risky side effects often outweigh the benefits. The supplement industry, unlike "Big Pharma," is largely unregulated and as consumers you have very little protection from public safety regulation (aside from those disclaimers that 'these claims have not been evaluated by the FDA...").

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