Trial Magazine

Grady Dillon, 38, was riding his motorcycle in downtown Los Angeles when Manuel Medina—who was driving a van owned by his employer, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)—turned left directly in front of Dillon. The two collided, and Dillon suffered a lacerated spleen and fractures to his pelvis, ribs, left wrist, and right foot.

Dillon required surgeries for his pelvic and wrist injuries and was hospitalized for 12 days. He then underwent four months of inpatient rehabilitation. He later required a lumbar fusion and a wrist osteotomy. He suffers from pain and physical limitations and incurred medical expenses of $550,000. He had been a parcel sorter and valet earning $35,000 annually but is able to work only sporadically since the crash.

Dillon sued the LADWP, alleging that Medina made an unsafe turn into his path, causing the collision.

The jury awarded $11 million.

Citation: Dillon v. Los Angeles Dep’t of Water & Power, No. 19STCV14977 (Cal. Super. Ct. Los Angeles Cnty. Mar. 22, 2024).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Robert Glassman, Thomas Schultz, and Jonathan Davidi, all of Los Angeles.