Alaska man awarded $25,000 by jury in car accident case

Case Name:

Gregory J. Kerkove v.David Sherbahn & Spenard Builders Supply

Case Number: 3AN-96-1922 CI ; S-8222

Date: 09/17/99

State: Alaska

Details:

Car Accident - Negligence - On April 14, 1994, David Sherbahn and Gregory Kerkove were involved in a car accident at the intersection of Post Road and Viking Drive in Anchorage. Kerkove sued Sherbahn and Sherbahn's employer, Spenard Builders Supply (SBS). Before trial, Kerkove offered to settle the dispute for $30,000, inclusive of costs, interest, and attorney's fees. Sherbahn and SBS rejected the offer. Although Sherbahn and SBS initially denied liability, in opening statement at trial they conceded that Sherbahn was negligent and that his negligence was a legal cause of the accident. Accordingly, the trial primarily addressed the issues of damages and Kerkove's comparative fault. Although the jury found that Kerkove was comparatively negligent, it concluded that his negligence was not a legal cause of his injuries. The jury awarded Kerkove $5,000 for past economic loss (medical bills), $5,000 for past non-economic loss (pain and suffering), and $15,000 for future economic loss (cost of medical treatment).

Verdict Outcome:

Jury awards plaintiff $25,000 in damages for car accident