Facts: On July 13,1985, Plaintiff, Leal, was seriously injured in an auto accident by Defendant, Erdhaus, who struck his car while traveling 

at 55 m.p.h. Plaintiff complained he needed two back surgeries and had already completed one before the trial. Plaintiff was not able to 

go back to work. He was a father and husband. After one week of trial the wife of the Plaintiff came and testified. Her testimony was very 

emotional. She was a pretty lady and very gentle. She told the jury how she was forced to provide for the family and how it was hard to be 

homemaker and provider both. She started to cry on the witness stand and members of the jury started to cry too. The judge recessed 

for the day and ordered the attorneys to return early the next day. The judge tried to talk settlement but the plaintiff held firm at $400,000. 

He was offered $ 200,000 by the insurance company of the defendant.

                                                                                              Medical $25,000

                                                                                       Earnings Loss: $40,000

                                                                                      Future Medical: $20,000

                                                                                   Future Earnings: $755,000

                                                                                 General Damages: $3,000,000

                                                                            Jurisdiction: Orange County Superior

                                                                                           Judge: John Flynn

                                                                                Plaintiff's Demand: $400,000

                                                                                Defendant's Offer: $200,000

                                                                                            Verdict: $44,000