Opinion ID: 2072510
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The First Accident

Text: The court below found that Prescimone retained the services of Kandel on September 12, 1984, following a motor vehicle accident the same day. Prescimone saw Dr. Shashi Desai later that day for an initial examination and on twenty-nine subsequent visits for physical therapy and reevaluation. He was released by Dr. Desai on October 31, 1984. Prescimone was also treated by a neurologist, Dr. Steven F. Manekin, M.D., on September 17 and 28, 1984. According to the chronology, two $100.00 advances in the form of personal business checks were made on September 21, 1984 and October 19, 1984. The purpose of the checks was to assist Prescimone in obtaining repairs to his car in order that he would have means of transportation to the treating physicians' offices. The amounts advanced were not for specific costs, but were to be applied for temporary repairs to keep the car running. Kandel testified that Prescimone told him he could not get to the physicians' offices because the car kept breaking down and he needed money for repairs, gas and oil. Kandel admitted that he neither examined nor verified the damage to the automobile in question. The use of a rental car was deemed not to be an acceptable alternative because of the financial status of the client. He also admitted in testimony that Prescimone may well have been using the vehicle for purposes other than attending physician appointments. On December 3, 1984, the case was settled for four thousand dollars ($4,000) and settlement funds were disbursed to Prescimone, less the two advances, totalling two hundred dollars ($200), which were deducted from the settlement proceeds.