Whoo Hoo!!! Wait, No, I'm Injured

A meter maid who said she was seriously injured when her Cushman crashed was awarded about $1.5 million last week by a San Francisco jury. But Mercy Zamora could have won a lot more if she hadn't competed -- and been photographed -- in a 10K race after the accident, according to one of the defense lawyers on the case.

San Francisco civil litigator Edward Hugo got a defense verdict for Brake Parts Inc. in the trial concluded July 18. But the jury awarded about $1.6 million against Cushman Inc., maker of the cart Zamora was driving, and employer city of San Francisco, which had already settled out. (Zamora will receive about $518,000 after offsets from the verdict.)

Hugo, who isn't shy about discussing his trial results, said in a press release that the award included $500,000 for past pain and suffering, but none for future pain and suffering. He speculated that was because, after Zamora's husband had testified his wife could no longer compete in road races or do other strenuous activity, he introduced this photo. 

"The photograph, found on the Internet for anyone to view," according to the press release, "clearly shows the plaintiff enjoying herself while engaged in an activity which her own attorney, Thomas Brandi, told the jury that she 'had lost the ability' to perform."

—  Scott Graham

Comments

I worked with Ms. Zamora, she was hurt,and I mean very bad! What that lawyer is talking about does not know her! She lost her reproductive organ, her liver and vagina were lacerated! What you want her dead? She needed to get on with her life, you just saw (1) picture of her, that does not detect that she is alright.