We would like to say congratulations to our friends William M. Paoli and Court B. Purdy of Paoli & Purdy, LLP for their recent settlement of $10.5 million, $9.5 from the City of Los Angeles and a million from other defendants. The Plaintiff (age 15) was hit and killed by a cab while she was attempting to cross the street with her friends near Dockweiler State Beach at Vista Del Mar Road.
While the defense relied on opinions of investigating officers stating that Naomi and her friends were at fault for “jay walking,” the Paoli & Purdy team demonstrated that the highway was hazardous for pedestrians. Beachgoers regularly park in the area and are forced to cross the dangerous highway returning to their vehicles. The area has a lack of crosswalks available and at the time of accident, there were no street lights operating on the roadway.
The area had a history of collisions and unsafe conditions for pedestrians, including fatalities. This history meant that the City had knowledge of the problems yet had done nothing to resolve the issues. The City Council approved the settlement, with a 12-0 vote. As of this post, Mr. Paoli has been notified that the City has placed temporary “No Parking” signs in an effort to keep pedestrians from crossing at Vista Del Mar to reach their vehicles.
This case was featured in the Verdicts & Settlements section of The Gavel, as well as the Los Angeles Times website. The team at Paoli & Purdy, LLP have handled thousands of personal injury matters involving millions of dollars in compensation, while maintaining the highest level of excellence in customer service. The dedication and personal attention they focus on each case has led to their considerable successes.
Everyone here at Advocate Capital, Inc. appreciates the hard work done on behalf of the parents of this minor Plaintiff as well as the safety for all beachgoers and pedestrians in the City of Los Angeles. Thank you for your dedication and all that you do.
Senior Vice President
