The following are a sampling of actual cases handled by Chuck Martin.
Crash of a Casino Courtesy Van
Our client, a 26-year-old oil-rig worker, was riding as a passenger in a Casino courtesy van that was transporting casino customers from their hotel to the casino for some well-earned R & R. The van was traveling 75–80 mph on the interstate when it hit ice on an overpass, lost control, slammed into the guardrail, careened across the interstate, crashed into the opposite side guardrail, and spun into a State Patrol vehicle. Our client suffered a herniated disc in the lumbar region of the spine requiring surgery.
Chuck Martin successfully negotiated a $450,000 settlement in less than a year from the date of injury.
Family Outing to the Beach
Our client, a 12-year-old girl, was a passenger in the back seat of her family’s Lincoln Navigator driven by her mother on the way to the beach. Her sister and a friend were also in the car. Another vehicle ran a stop sign and slammed into the Navigator as it passed through an intersection. The point of impact was the back passenger door behind the driver where our client was riding. Our client suffered a broken femur bone — the upper leg bone and the largest bone in the human body.
Chuck Martin successfully negotiated a $300,000 settlement in less than a year from the date of injury.
Tire Blow-out Causes Vehicle Roll-Over
Our clients — the driver, a 28-year-old mother with her two young children (4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter), along with her 26-year-old sister-in-law and her 3-year-old son — were all in a Ford Explorer driving down the freeway when a defective Firestone tire blew out causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle hit the inside guardrail, flipped over, and came to rest on its roof. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured.
Chuck Martin successfully negotiated settlements of $150,000 within a year of the accident.
Drowning when Paddleboat Sinks
A married couple, both 35 years old, along with the wife’s sister, visited a lakeside resort to inspect property for possible purchase of a lot. The three of them boarded a small paddleboat — though it was designed and labeled for only 2 people. About 20 feet offshore the paddleboat began to sink. Both women were non-swimmers but somehow made it to shore. The husband, a good swimmer, went down and never came up. The autopsy revealed an asymptomatic heart virus. The excitement of the paddleboat sinking caused a rapid heartbeat, and the virus exacerbated the increase, causing his heart to beat uncontrollably until it stopped. The insurance companies argued that the heart virus — not the sinking — caused his death, and also raised misuse by the plaintiffs for overloading the paddleboat with three people.
In spite of the difficult liability issues, after several months of litigation Chuck Martin negotiated settlements of $500,000 at mediation.
Stomach Stapling Surgery Goes Wrong
Our client, a 39-year-old woman, underwent stomach-stapling surgery in order to lose weight. Something went wrong during the surgery. The surgeon testified at his deposition that the stapling device malfunctioned. The manufacturer of the device alleged negligent misuse by the surgeon. Our client developed peritonitis as stomach waste leaked into the abdominal wall causing infection. After two weeks in the hospital she eventually recovered.
After several months of aggressive litigation, and shortly before the start of the jury trial, Chuck Martin negotiated a settlement of $300,000.