Case Results

$3,050,733.46 (Three million fifty thousand seven hundred thirty three dollars and 46 cents) court judgment. Client attacked by numerous pit-bull mix dogs. She suffered scarring in several places and required numerous stitches. She healed pretty well but has some permanent scarring and is (rightly so) emotional distressed and continues to deal with the after effects of what happened.

$2 Million Brain Injury/Spine Injury Accident

Client rear-ended by company vehicle. Both liability and injury denied. After multiple depositions, able to prove liability. Client had multiple complex injuries. Defense and Plaintiff had spinal surgeons, radiologists, brain injury experts, life care planners, economists and others. Case ended up settling about a week before trial for 2 Million.

$1.3 Million Motorcycle Accident Client hit by unmarked van making a left turn while riding his motorcycle. Van driver had $300,000 in insurance, which was offered in settlement. Mr. Sorrells filed suit based on a hunch that there may have been a non-delegable duty and another defendant with additional insurance. Hunch was correct. Case settled for policy limits of $1.3 million.

$1.1 Million Bicycle Accident Client sustained broken Ulna and Radius when a car door opened in front of her while she rode her bicycle. Mr. Sorrells obtained a life care plan detailing her future medical needs, and the case settled just over a month before trial for $1.1 million dollars.

$974,731 for Car Accident In Dec of 2010, we settled an L5/S1 fusion surgery case caused by a rear-end accident for $974,731. This was a million dollar policy limits settlement, but another occupant in a different vehicle had already received $25,269 out of a single limit policy, so that is why the amount was not the full million. We are proud to say that this injured person was two weeks away from losing their house to foreclosure because the injuries prevented working and our client could not pay the mortgage. Settlement occurred just in time and now his house is paid off.

$661,000 for Back Injury In 2009, we tried a case in San Francisco against a large law firm. The offer prior to trial was approximately $250,000. Case was taken to trial with a judgment of $661,000. The injury was an L5/S1 spondylolisthesis.

$400,000 for Tibial Plateau Fracture Mr. Sorrells represented a client who was injured in a pedestrian accident after being struck by an automobile. The client suffered a tibial plateau fracture and required surgery to repair the fracture.

$375,000 for Workers' Compensation The client came to see us with a Qualified Medical Examiner (QME) report that said there was no ongoing injury, no ongoing problems, and the case was case worth $0.00. The insurance company cut off his TD (temporary disability) benefits based on the report. He had sustained a crush injury to the hip and lower leg from a fork lift. Adam believed the client's pain complaints and agreed to represent him. After thinking about all his symptoms, Adam thought he had CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome). He asked the PTP (primary treating physician) to evaluate for CRPS. The PTP wasn't familiar with CRPS, so Adam sent over some literature, the names of some specialists he could refer to, and some suggestions. In the meantime, Adam convinced the insurance company to use an AME (agreed medical examiner). The report from the AME was an improvement over the first report, and with that Adam was able to get TD resumed and back TD paid. The specialist then confirmed Adam's suspicion that the client was suffering from CRPS, and the case is now settling for $375,000 From an initial determination that the case was worth $0.00, Adam Sorrells succeeded in getting the payment up to $375,000.

$350,000 for neck injury Client was rear-ended. There was a question as to whether or not his neck was injured or his shoulder and also a question on whether or not the problem with his neck stemmed from age (degeneration on spine) or the collision. The at-fault driver paid their policy limits of $100,000 and then the same adjuster (at fault and my client had the same insurance company) defended the under-insured motorist claim, only offering $1,000 to settle. After demanding arbitration they later paid $250,000.

$338,000 for tibia plateau fracture Client was in forceful collision. Client had numerous pre-existing conditions. The insurance company claimed that the driver of my clients car caused the collision and they were not responsible. Extensive investigation showed otherwise and the case was able to settle.

$300,000 Policy Limit Settlement for Dog Attack Victim Our client was a woman who had been viciously attacked by a pack of three pitbulls.

$250,000 Car Accident Young woman crashed into by another car that turned left in front of her. Sustained concussion and small fracture in nose. Case settled for policy limits of $250,000.

$200,000 for Post-Concussion Syndrome Our client was a lady who was rear-ended on highway 299 in Shasta County. She was denied medical treatment at the scene and five days later saw a chiropractor. It was later determined that she had sustained a concussion and was exhibiting post-concussion syndrome. The defense denied a post-concussive injury but the case was able to be resolved amicably at a mediation.

$185,000 for Morton’s Neuroma $185,000 for Morton’s Neuroma from car collision (Foot injury).

$175,000 dog bite case Client was a rural postal carrier who just delivered mail. As she was leaving the homeowners dog bit her on the back of the leg. Client has small but permanent scars on leg.

$170,065 for Traumatic Brain Injury On 10/29/1998, Mr. Sorrells tried a mild traumatic brain injury case in Butte County. Offer before trial was $15,000, increased to $30,000 before trial. Defense claimed low impact and no brain injury. Plaintiff had a neurologist and neuropsychologist testify to the brain injury. Verdict was $170,065. Defense moved for a new trial. Judge granted the motion deciding (essentially) that Mr. Sorrells had just done too good of a job, and the verdict should not have been that high. We also argued the case on appeal, and were able to get the motion for new trial reversed. This took several years. The defense had to pay an extra $30,000 in interest.

$105,000 Public Entity Settlement for Broken Nose in Restroom

$105,000 Workers Compensation Settlement

$100,000 Policy Limit Settlement for Jaw Injury in Car Crash

$100,000 policy limits brain injury/concussion Insurance company claimed that my client was hit with minimal force and that after his injury he fell at work hitting his head which caused the concussion. Suit was filed and the full policy limits were paid after my clients deposition (because we were able to show that he fell because of his concussion and that his injuries were real).

$100,000 policy limits for broken wrist $100,000 policy limits broken wrist from car accident.

$100,000 policy limits on brain injury/concussion Client had a previous accident one year before this one with the same symptoms (insurance company claim). They offered $12,500. Suit was filed and we were able to prove new injuries and exacerbation of old injuries. The full policy limits were paid after my clients deposition was taken.

$100,000 policy limits on brain injury/concussion case I was contacted by client after he was offered $500 by insurance company, who called his case “low impact” with no injury. A close listen to a statement he gave to the insurance company revealed a reference to being concussed. A brain MRI was obtained which showed a traumatic lesion and the full policy limits of the insurance company were paid two weeks later.

$100,000 Policy Limits Settlement in Car vs. Bicycle Case

$99,500 for back and neck injury My client was driving on Highway 99 when a phantom unsafe driver suddenly changed lanes. She had to veer to the side to avoid the sudden lane change and was rear-ended. The phantom driver fled the scene and could not be found. An uninsured motorist case could not be made because there was no contact between my clients car and the phantom car. A claim was made against the car that rear-ended my client for driving too close. They denied responsibility and pointed out that my client had pre-existing injuries. There was no surgery and scattered treatment but we were able to resolve the case just before the statute of limitations ran.

Verdict in Excess of Policy Limits In February of 1998, we tried a case in Sacramento and obtained an excess of policy limits verdict. Policy limits for the case were $50,000, and the verdict was higher than that. Insurance companies hate paying more than the policy limits. If they play games and do not settle the case within the policy when they had a reasonable opportunity to do so, then they are later responsible for the full verdict, which is what happened here.

Workers' Compensation Victory On July 31, 2013, in a two day workers compensation trial, Mr. Sorrells won an AOE/COE verdict. That means that the insurance company contended that the injury did not happen at work. If they had prevailed, the injured worker would not have any workers compensation case. AOE means arising out of employment, and COE, means course of employment. As a result of our efforts, the injured worker is entitled to receive medical treatment, temporary disability benefits, and back temporary disability, along with penalties.