Houston Law Firm Vujasinovic & Beckcom Recognized for Verdict Obtained in Truck Accident Lawsuit

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Oct 13, 2010, 06:22 ET

HOUSTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys at the Houston, Texas law firm Vujasinovic & Beckcom have been recognized by the nation's leading publisher of verdict and settlement news for a verdict they recently obtained in a personal injury trial. ALM, the publisher of VerdictSearch, profiled the case as its "Verdict of the Week" in its October 4, 2010 issue.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100602/DA14600)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100602/DA14600)

Attorneys Vuk Vujasinovic and Sean Cichowski tried the lawsuit for the law firm's client, Alfonso Garza, in Cause No. 2009-60719, 151st District Court, Harris County, Texas.

Mr. Garza was driving his Suburban on Hopper Road in Houston on April 29, 2009 when he was sideswiped by a pick up truck driven by an employee of EMS USA, Inc. Mr. Garza claimed he injured his spine, and underwent a two level neck fusion surgery about a year after the accident.

EMS USA, Inc. was insured by Chartis insurance company (formerly AIG). Attorneys employed by Chartis defended the lawsuit, which was litigated for a year before the trial date.

Chartis did not extend any settlement offer to Mr. Garza before the trial started. After the jury was selected on the first day of trial, Chartis offered Mr. Garza $350,000 to settle. Mr. Garza rejected this offer.

Mr. Vujasinovic called several witnesses at trial, including the company truck driver, company supervisors, Mr. Garza, the treating orthopedic surgeon, and a life care planning expert.

The only company witness was a neurologist, Leonard Hershkowitz, M.D. Mr. Vujasinovic moved to strike the primary opinion of Dr. Hershkowitz on grounds it was unreliable. The Judge agreed and struck the testimony. Mr. Vujasinovic then called Dr. Hershkowitz as his last witness, and elicited opinions that were favorable to Mr. Garza's case.

The trial lasted four days. On August 26, 2010, the twelve person jury awarded Mr. Garza $734,191. The award was itemized as follows:

$179,191	Past medical cost
$225,000	Future medical cost
$40,000	Past physical impairment
$80,000	Future physical impairment
$70,000	Past pain and suffering
$140,000	Future pain and suffering

With the addition of judgment interest and costs, the total award is expected to exceed $800,000.

The founding partners of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, Vuk Vujasinovic and Brian Beckcom, are both Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The firm focuses a significant part of its practice on auto and truck accident lawsuits.

SOURCE Vujasinovic & Beckcom, PLLC