MOTOR VEHICLE

PALM BEACH CIRCUIT COURT

A jury awarded a driver more than $1 million for injuries she suffered in a collision in West Palm Beach.

In 2011, Mia Farland, 51, was driving a compact SUV east on Royal Poinciana Way. As she turned left onto Bradley Place, another SUV appeared in the lane to her left and struck the side of her vehicle. The other driver, Nelson Peltz, was found negligent, and the case focused on damages. Farland claimed the accident aggravated her scoliosis and broke rods that stabilized her back. Surgery to replace the rods ended up injuring her spine, and ultimately she lost an inch from her left leg.

The defense argued the rods were broken before the crash, which was too minor to cause injury. The jury awarded Farland more than $1 million in medical costs.

Case Farland v. Peltz

Case No.: 50-2013-CA-014341-XXXX-MB

Plaintiffs attorneys: Gary Roberts and Joseph Wolsztyniak; Gary Roberts & Associates, West Palm Beach

Defense attorney: Bruce M. Trybus, Cooney Trybus Kwavnick Peets, Fort Lauderdale