CASE                         Barbara Edwards v. Freddie Ardell Hardy
No. 01 CE CG 01605

COURT         Superior Court of Fresno County

PLAINTIFF
ATTORNEY(S)        Charles D. Oren

DEFENSE
ATTORNEY(S)        Michael E. Lehman

FACTS        On June 14, 2000, plaintiff Barbara Edwards’ 1996 Oldsmobile was stopped at a red light when it was rear-ended by Freddie Ardell Hardy’s half-ton Chevy pickup. Edwards, 53, was assisted from her vehicle by paramedics who took her to the hospital.

INJURIES Edwards’ primary concern was contusions and abrasions to her legs. She was examined and released from the hospital. She then had followup care with her primary care physician Mohammed Ashraf, who released her from work for three weeks.
After three weeks off work, Edwards returned to her employment as a corporate bookkeeper. She continued to work up to the middle of October 2001, when the pain became unbearable.
Edwards had been seen by Dr. Randall Epperson, who testified that she had suffered a mild traumatic brain injury.
Rick Sarkisian, a vocational rehabilitation specialist, initially that she could return to work as a part time secretary.
The defense pointed out that Edwards only had complaints to her legs following the accident, had been examined and released following emergency treatment and returned to work for three-and-one-half months. The defense also noted that it was only when she had an incident lifting some large binders at work in October that she immediately went to an orthopedic specialist and complained of pain.

RESULT     The jury awarded Edwards $125,000 as a general verdict.

PLAINTIFF                    
EXPERT(S)  Rick A. Sarkisian
Randall C. Epperson
James Nugent
Mohammed Ashraf

DEFENSE    
EXPERT(S)  Victoria Walton

INSURER(S)            California Insurance Group