On March 6, 2014, a three-judge panel in Santa Ana, CA, awarded Vince Colarossi more than $15,512,000 for the injuries he suffered in a bicycle accident on August 23, 2009 that rendered him paraplegic.
Vince Colarossi, 58, of San Juan Capistrano, CA, and four other plaintiffs settled their action against contractors that failed to properly resurface a public roadway in Malibu. The action filed by Colarossi and four other plaintiffs (LASC Case No. SC109408) was settled for $16.9 million in November of 2013.
Following that settlement agreement, the five plaintiffs entered an allocation agreement and arbitration hearing. Three of the plaintiffs settled for a combined $400,000. On February 11, 18 and 19, 2014, Colarossi through his attorneys Callahan & Blaine, and another plaintiff arbitrated before a three judge panel the issue of how the remaining $16.5 million should be divided.
Colarossi, represented by Daniel Callahan and Sarah Serpa of Callahan & Blaine, presented evidence that Colarossi had suffered broken vertebrae leading to paraplegia as well as a broken collar bone and separated shoulder. The three-judge panel awarded Colarossi the sum of $15,512,101.91. The other plaintiff was awarded $987,898.09.
Daniel Callahan, counsel for Vincent Colarossi, stated: “Mr. Colarossi suffered a terrible accident with horrific injuries that totally changed his life. He went from a strong, active, virile man to a person in constant pain, relegated to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. We are pleased for Vince that he now has ample funds to take care of his needs indefinitely into the future. It is hoped that this settlement will compel contractors to be more diligent in the maintenance of public thoroughfares so as to protect the interest of the many bicyclists on the road.”
Daniel J. Callahan received the highest personal injury settlement for an individual plaintiff in the United States history in the amount of $50 million in 2007. He also has the highest jury award in Orange County history in the amount of $934 million. He was listed as one of the Top Ten Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers in 2013 and one of the Top 50 Attorneys in Orange County by Super Lawyers from the inception of the publication to the present.
