After $41.86 Million Jury Verdict, Parties Settle for $46 Million in Truck Rear-Ending Motorcyclist

Dominic Consolazio suffered from a seizure disorder that was unresponsive to medicine at times. He was employed by Southern California Gas Co. in a position that required him to drive a company truck.

One morning, he was driving on a Los Angeles County street en route to a job site when he suffered a seizure. He lost consciousness and rear-ended a motorcyclist, Jason Lo, 32, who was stopped at a red light. Lo’s motorcycle became lodged under Consolazio’s truck, which continued traveling another 436 feet. Consolazio attempted to leave the scene.

Lo suffered massive blood loss, a degloving injury to his right leg, and a torn femoral artery.
Over the next month, Lo underwent multiple surgeries and avoided a leg amputation. Nevertheless, he has suffered severe disfigurement and walks with a limp. He faces a possible leg amputation in the future if he experiences a muscle graft failure. Lo, an Air Force captain, incurred medical expenses of $453,000 and lost income totaling more than $115,500.

Lo and his wife sued Consolazio alleging improper lookout and choosing not to discontinue driving in light of a known seizure disorder and against his treating physician’s recommendations.

The lawsuit also alleged Southern California Gas Co. was liable for hiring Consolazio, who was unfit to drive.

The jury signed a verdict of approximately $41.86 million finding that Consolazio had acted with malice and oppression. The parties later settled for $46 million before the jury’s punitive damages verdict came in.

The attorneys who successfully handled this tragic case were Brian J. Panish, Daniel W. Dunbar, Alexander J. Behar and Matthew J. Stumpf.

Lo v. Consolazio, No. BC 653464 (Cal. Super. Ct. Los Angeles County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling truck accident lawsuits, catastrophic injury lawsuits, rear-end car crash cases, intersection collision lawsuits, motorcycle accident cases and bicycle accident lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Melrose Park, Bensenville, Antioch, Calumet City, Deerfield, Flossmoor, Gurnee, Hinsdale, Itasca, Joliet, Kenilworth, Lansing, Midlothian, Naperville, Orland Park, Park Forest, Chicago (River North, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Lawndale, Garfield Park, West Loop, Lake Calumet, Bridgeport, Canaryville), Alsip, Bridgeview, Richton Park, Sauk Village, Tinley Park, University Park, Vernon Hills, Yorkville and Zion, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.