Painter struck by corporate van in illegal U-turn: $7.5 million after $10 million verdict

In March 2019, a painter driving his Chevy truck north through Ventura County watched the GMC Savanna van ahead of him veer right and then snap into a sudden, unlawful U-turn across his lane. He had no time to stop. The van was owned by Oakwood Worldwide, a corporate housing company, and driven by one of its employees acting within the scope of his job.

The crash left the plaintiff with neck and back pain that persisted despite years of conservative care, including physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and pain management. In July 2023, more than four years after the collision, his condition had not improved enough to avoid surgery. He underwent a C5-C6 cervical fusion.

Taylor Gaines of Batta Fulkerson Law Group, co-counseling with the trial team at HHJ Trial Attorneys, took the case to a seven-day jury trial in February 2025. Before trial, the defense had offered $350,000, which defense counsel characterized internally as a 'gift.' The plaintiff's side rejected that offer, then a $1 million offer, then a $3 million offer.

At trial, a key moment came during cross-examination of the defense's life care planner, who had been retained to minimize the projected cost of the plaintiff's future medical needs. She admitted on cross that she had used ChatGPT and a hospital chatbot to generate her cost estimates. She also disclosed that defense counsel had instructed her not to produce a written report, which prevented the plaintiff from reviewing her methodology before trial.

On February 5, 2025, the jury deliberated for one day and returned a unanimous verdict of $10,024,171, assigning 100 percent of fault to the defense. The breakdown included approximately $1.9 million in future economic damages, $1.3 million in past non-economic damages, and $7 million in future non-economic damages. A pre-existing high-low agreement capped the plaintiff's recovery at $7.5 million. The parties resolved the case at that figure on February 20, 2025.