Samantha Sabra vs. Michael A. Morris, et al.

Case Background

On April 07, 2023, Samantha Sabra filed an auto negligence lawsuit against Michael A. Morris and Nicholas Morris after a motor vehicle collision in Los Angeles. The case was filed in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles. Judges Nicole M. Heeseman, Amy Yerkey, and Michael P. Vicencia presided over this case. [Case number: 23LBCV00647]

Cause

Plaintiff Samantha Sabra alleged that defendants Michael A. Morris, Nicholas Morris, and Does 1 to 100 caused her damages. She claimed that their actions or failure to act negligently led to her injuries.

The incident occurred on July 4, 2021, at SR-47 Northbound, specifically near the Harbor Boulevard on-ramp in Los Angeles, California. The defendants recklessly operated their vehicle. As a result, their vehicle collided with the one driven or occupied by her. This collision caused her to sustain serious injuries and damages.

Damages

The Plaintiff suffered various losses, including wage loss and the loss of use of property. They incurred significant hospital and medical expenses, as well as general damages and property damage.

Furthermore, the Plaintiff experienced a loss of earning capacity and other damages related to the incident. In light of these hardships, the Plaintiff sought a judgment to cover the costs of the suit. They requested fair, just, and equitable relief, specifically pursuing compensatory damages for their suffering.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Samantha Sabra
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Daniel M. Graham | Anoush Terry Ashkarian
  • Defendant(s): Michael A. Morris | Nicholas Morris
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): Patrick J. Gibbs | Ben G. Gage

Claims

Plaintiff claimed that due to the Defendant’s negligence, the accident had occurred and she was caused to sustain injuries and damages. Samantha stated that the defendants acted carelessly and unlawfully. They controlled, managed, maintained, and poorly operated their vehicle. As a result, their vehicle collided with the one driven or occupied by her

Defense

The Defendants argued that comparative negligence applied in this case. They claimed that any negligence on their part was not a significant factor in causing the Plaintiff’s alleged injuries. Therefore, they asserted it could not be considered a contributing or proximate cause of the damages. The Defendants maintained that the Plaintiff’s claim for damages was speculative and lacked essential evidence. They stated that any evidence of unpaid medical bills was irrelevant and inadmissible. As a result, this evidence could not legally support an award for past or future medical expenses.

Additionally, the Defendants pointed out that if Plaintiff Samantha Sabra lacked the required insurance under California’s financial responsibility laws, her recovery would not include non-economic losses. This meant she could not seek compensation for pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, disfigurement, or other non-pecuniary damages. The Defendants referenced California Civil Code § 3333.4 to support their position.

Jury Verdict

On June 11, 2024, the LA jury found Defendants Michael A. Morris and Nicholas Morris liable for negligence. The jury awarded Samantha $75,096.27 in damages. The break up of the amount is as follows:

  • Past medical expenses: $96.27
  • Past non-economic loss: $75,000

The jury allocated 90% of the negligence to Michael Morris and 10% to Nicholas Morris. No comparative negligence was found.

Court Documents:

Available upon request