Jury Awards $210,000 for Admitted Liability Accident with Two Claimed Surgeries
On May 27, 2026, Scott Macdonald and Steven Hingst secured a favorable trial verdict in Orange County. The matter involved a significant rear-end impact. We admitted liability, but contested causation for the claimed injuries. Plaintiff underwent a left shoulder surgery for a torn labrum and rotator cuff. Plaintiff also underwent a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy for alleged disc herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1. Plaintiff waived all past medical specials except for the lumbar procedure for which she sought $160,000. She sought future care, including a cervical fusion surgery, and requested $350,000. She asked the jury to award a total of $4,000,000.
We were able to demonstrate for the jury that the medical treatment received was lacking in a continuity of care given her being transferred from lien doctor to lien doctor. e introduced evidence of a subsequent accident which preceded the lumbar surgery. Plaintiff claimed she was uninjured in the subsequent loss. The jury awarded $100,000 in past medical bills, $75,000 in future medical bills, $25,000 in past pain and suffering and $10,000 in future pain and suffering. We will seek costs given that we had offered $500,000 by way of C.C.P. 998.
Read MoreLaura Flynn Published in Defense Comment Regarding Allen v. Patel
Macdonald & Cody, LLP is pleased to share that partner Laura Flynn has been published in the Spring 2026 issue of Defense Comment, the publication of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada.
Laura’s article, Allen v. Patel: Million Dollar Verdict Vacated After Granting of New Trial Based on Misconduct of Plaintiff’s Counsel, Including Violations of Golden Rule and Reptile Theory, analyzes a significant California appellate decision addressing attorney misconduct, improper argument, and motions for new trial.
The article serves as an important reminder of the value of carefully crafted motions in limine to address and prevent attorney misconduct, particularly with Golden Rule and Reptile Theory arguments at issue. Laura examines the Court’s treatment of those issues and the broader implications for trial practice and defense advocacy.
We congratulate Laura on this excellent publication and are proud to recognize her contributions to the defense bar.
Read the article here: ADC Defense Comment Magazine, Spring 2026
Read MoreProud to support St. Paul High School Baseball
The team at Macdonald & Cody, LLP is please to support Coach R.J. Lan and the St. Paul High School Baseball program in Santa Fe Springs, CA, through a donation to assist with their fundraising efforts.
Proud Sponsor of the 19th Annual OC ABOTA Golf Classic
The team at Macdonald & Cody, LLP is pleased to be able to help contribute to organizations like, The American Board of Trial Advocates, Orange County Chapter and the upcoming event on May 18th, the 19th Annual OC ABOTA Golf Classic.
Proud Sponsor of the 22nd Annual Federated Challenge
The team at Macdonald & Cody, LLP is pleased to be able to help contribute to organizations like, Big Brothers Big Sisters® and the upcoming event on July 27th, the 22nd Annual Federated Challenge.
Orange County Jury Awards Plaintiff Just Over 10% of Eight Figures Requested at Trial
On January 30, 2026, Scott Macdonald and Danielle Boyd secured a verdict in the Orange County Superior Court for an admitted liability, alleged traumatic brain injury case. The case involved a side-swipe accident in which plaintiff’s driver’s side door was hit by a third vehicle after our client ran a red light. Plaintiff hit her head against the passenger side window, causing a hematoma. She was self-transported to the hospital after the collision, where she was diagnosed with a concussion. Imaging also revealed a pre-existing Chiari I malformation. Plaintiff sought care with multiple lien providers following the accident with complaints of headaches and other associated neurological symptoms. She claimed a significant life disruption, including difficulties working and caring for three children. Plaintiff sought over $15,000,000 at trial for a life-long injury.
Mr. Macdonald and Ms. Boyd introduced evidence that two of plaintiff’s three children were born after the accident. Social media and investigative footage demonstrated that plaintiff was not as impaired as claimed. Expert testimony established that the concussion was mild and would have resolved within a short period of time.
After deliberations, the jury awarded less than half of plaintiff’s past medical bills, $50,000. The jury awarded a small percentage of the Life Care Plan sought by plaintiff, $115,000. The jury awarded past pain and suffering of $450,000 and future pain and suffering of $40,000. The total verdict was $655,000.
Following Plaintiff’s motion for a new trial on grounds of future noneconomic being inadequate and baseless allegations of juror misconduct, the court denied, and the verdict was successfully protected.
Read MoreProud Sponsor of the 9th Annual CRB Golf Tournament
The team at Macdonald & Cody, LLP is pleased to be able to help contribute to organizations like, The Alabaster Jar Project and the upcoming event on May 8th, the 9th Annual CRB Golf Tournament.
Proud Sponsor of the Childhelp Rich Saul Memorial Golf Classic 2026
The team at Macdonald & Cody, LLP is pleased to be able to help contribute to organizations like, Childhelp and their upcoming event on May 18th, the Rich Saul Memorial Golf Classic 2026.
Holiday Giving Initiative Supports Local Youth
This holiday season, our firm was proud to host a gift drive in partnership with the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). Attorneys and staff from our firm, along with employees from neighboring businesses at the Central Corporate Center, came together to support children and youth served through DPSS and the Harmony Haven Children & Youth Center.
Over the course of one week, participants generously donated a wide range of requested items, including clothing, footwear, personal care items, games, and other gifts selected specifically for youth in care.
We are grateful to everyone who participated and to DPSS for the opportunity to collaborate on this meaningful initiative.
Below is a short video showcasing this holiday partnership and the generosity that makes our community so special.
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Automobile Versus Pedestrian Significant Arm Laceration Case Results in Four-figure Verdict
Scott Macdonald and Alex Macdonald secured a favorable verdict in Torrance on December 22, 2025.
This was a disputed liability case. Our client was proceeding westbound down a narrow street with cars parked on both sides. There was a tow truck facing eastbound, double-parked next to parked cars on the south side of the street. Plaintiff was interacting with the tow truck driver, who was unloading his motorcycle from the truck bed. There were multiple conflicting accounts of what Plaintiff was doing at the time of the impact. Plaintiff claimed that he was in the street next to the tow truck facing southwest talking to the tow truck driver on the flat bed. A witness claimed that Plaintiff was facing southbound looking at the tow truck. Plaintiff’s two liability experts agreed that Plaintiff was facing westbound in the street, with his back to defendant’s vehicle. The investigating officer reported that Plaintiff was facing southbound and turned to walk northbound into defendant’s path of travel. Defendant claimed that Plaintiff was standing on the steps of the tow truck cab and jumped off into his vehicle. It was undisputed that Plaintiff’s right elbow/triceps region contacted Mr. Pina’s windshield, resulting in a penetrating wound to that area.
At trial, Plaintiff made claims for a penetrating wound on his right triceps resulting in scars and disfigurement of his tattoos, lower back pain, 4 years of past noneconomic damages, and 40 years of future noneconomic damages. During the four and a half years from the date of the accident and trial, Plaintiff attended a total of<nine medical appointments for his injuries from July 30, 2021 (DOL) and May 26, 2022, including a gap in treatment from August 5, 2021 to February 3, 2022, when he went to see his attorney-referred plastic surgeon. The defense demonstrated that plaintiff traveled to Mexico, Greece, Turkey, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Cuba, Canada, Austria, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., New Mexico, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and other places from as soon as 17 days after the accident until a few months before trial. Plaintiff, a self-proclaimed amateur bodybuilder, also claimed that he was unable to compete in a men’s physique competition.
During closing, Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award $5,000 in past meds, $6,000-$12,000 in future meds, $75,000-$95,000 for four years of past noneconomic damages, and $850,000-$950,000 for 40 years of future noneconomic damages, totaling $936,000-1,062,000. The jury came back with an award of $13,000 and 60% comparative fault on Plaintiff. Plaintiff’s counsel claimed that the $50,000 policy was open and did not accept prior counsel’s 998 offer for the policy limit back in August 2025.
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