Opinion ID: 1374687
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bernie Ryan.

Text: Australian Bernie Ryan was 31 years old when the accident occurred. Ryan was an excellent athlete, participating in several sports, including football, diving, swimming, and motorcycle racing. In fact, he once represented Australia in international motorcycle racing. Ryan worked for an Australian sports equipment import firm as a sales and sports representative. Since the accident, Ryan testified that he is unable to engage in any of his vocational or sporting hobbies. He also alleges that he now has a fear of flying so intense that, unless heavily sedated, he is unable to do so. This, Ryan contends, has further damaged his career, because the job he held when he was hurt required extensive air travel. Doctors who examined Ryan testified that in the accident he suffered a broken rib, fractured vertebrae, ligament and nerve damage, and bleeding. The ligaments in Ryan's left knee were severely ruptured. [2] Nerve damage has caused numbness in his leg and groin area. We have previously quoted Ryan's terrifying experience in the crash. That experience, which in addition to the physical pain inflicted, has also caused psychological harm. One psychiatrist, Dr. Holt, diagnosed Ryan as suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder. His conclusions were based, in part, on reoccurring nightmares of the accident which Ryan has experienced. Dr. Holt recommended psychiatric treatment, but stated that there was no guarantee that such treatment would benefit Ryan. Dr. Holt also stated that it would take a great amount of effort on Ryan's part in order for any treatment to be successful. In closing argument, counsel for Sierra Pacific admitted at least partial liability [3] and suggested that $75,000 would be just compensation for Ryan's damages. See R., Vol. 11, pp. 2812-13. As discussed in more detail below, the jury awarded Ryan $500,000 damages.