VERIZON TRUCK MADE U-TURN, PLAINTIFF COLLIDED WITH TRUCK

NEW YORK JURY VERDICT REPORTER

Arbitration      $250,000
Case    Scott Friedberg v. Verizon New York, Inc., f/k/a New York Telephone Company, Inc., and Michael Meilak, No. 114012/01
Court   New York Supreme
Judge  None reported
Neutral(s)       Michael Tempesta
Date    5/13/2003

Plaintiff Attorney(s)               Todd D. Greenberg, Addabbo & Greenberg, Forest Hills, NY

Defense Attorney(s)              Michael M.J. Colon, Rivera, Hunter, Colon & Dobshinsky, L.L.P., New York, NY

Facts & Allegations
On February 20, 2003, the plaintiff, Scott Friedberg, a 32-year-old mortgage broker, was proceeding northbound on Lakeland Avenue in Islip.  A service truck, owned by
defendant Meilak, was parked on the northbound shoulder of Lakeland.  At approximately 10:17 a.m., Meilak pulled the Verizon truck out in an attempt to make a U-turn.  The plaintiff’s vehicle struck the defendant’s truck.
The defendants argued tha the plaintiff was on his cell phone at the time of the accident, and not paying attention and keeping a proper lookout. The plaintiff contended that the accident was inevitable in that the defendant make an
illegal U-turn immediately in front of him and that he had no time to react.
 

Injuries/Damages
Fracture, radius; facial laceration
Friedberg suffered a transverse fracture to the right distal radius with gross dorsal displacement and angulation.  He underwent open reduction with internal fixation.  He then underwent a period of physical therapy.  He also sustained lacerations to his right wrist and hand and to his forehead, which left scarring.

Result
This arbitration resulted in an award of $250,000 for the plaintiff

Plaintiff(s)
            Scott Friedberg
                        $250,000 plaintiff’s total award

Demand          none reported

Offer   none reported

Insurer(s)        AIG for the defendants.

Plaintiff Expert(s)       Charles P. Melone, Jr., M.D., orthopedics, New York, NY (Todd D. Greenberg)

Defense Expert(s)      Salvatore R. Lenzo, orthopedic surgery, New York, NY (Michael J. Colon)

Post-Trial                    none reported

Plaintiff’s Demographics
                                    Scott Friedberg
                                                Age:    32 Years
                                                Occupation:  mortgage broker
                                                Gender:          Male
                                                Married:         None reported
                                                Children:         None reported
                                                Children Description:  None reported

Written By – John Hadler