Case Background
On June 15, 2021, Elizabeth McAlister drove her Mazda southbound on 50th Street East in Palmdale. At the same time, Angela Lisa Thompson drove her Toyota eastbound on Avenue P. Both vehicles approached the busy intersection of Avenue P and 50th Street East around 7:12 p.m.
Cause
Thompson attempted a left turn onto northbound 50th Street East. She failed to yield the right of way before entering the intersection. Her Toyota crossed into McAlister’s path, and the Mazda collided with the Toyota. Plaintiff alleged Thompson operated the vehicle negligently, failed to yield, and created a foreseeable risk of harm. Plaintiff also claimed Doe Defendants owned, entrusted, or controlled the vehicle and acted as Thompson’s agents or employees.
Injury
The crash left McAlister with severe bodily injuries. She reported lasting physical pain, shock to her nervous system, and emotional distress. She alleged permanent impairments that reduced her health, strength, and capacity to engage in normal life activities.
Damages
McAlister sought compensation for past and future medical expenses, incidental costs, and ongoing treatment. She also alleged wage loss, reduced earning capacity, and inability to perform her occupation. She further claimed damages for emotional suffering, nervous shock, and loss of life enjoyment.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Elizabeth McAlister
Counsel for Plaintiff: Misak Chanchikyan | Alexander Russell Wheeler | Eric N. Wilson
Defendant(s): Angela Lisa Thompson
Counsel for Defendant: Eric S. Boorstin | Scott Philip Dixler | Robert Lee Reisinger | Marshall A. Coyle
Claims
Plaintiff filed one cause of action for Negligence against Thompson and Does 1–20. She alleged negligent driving, ownership, and entrustment of the vehicle. Against Does 1–30, she claimed agency and responsibility for her injuries. She demanded non-economic and economic damages, prejudgment interest, and costs of suit.
Defense
Defendant Angela Lisa Thompson denied all allegations in Elizabeth McAlister’s complaint. She asserted that McAlister’s own negligence was the primary cause of the collision and any resulting injuries. Thompson also argued that McAlister voluntarily assumed the risks of the circumstances, and that other persons’ acts, not her own, proximately caused or contributed to the incident. She further claimed the complaint failed to state valid causes of action and was barred by applicable statutes of limitation.
Thompson raised additional defenses, including superseding and intervening acts by others, limits on joint and several liability under Proposition 51, and employer negligence if McAlister was in the course of employment. She also alleged McAlister lacked insurance under California’s financial responsibility laws, limiting recovery of non-economic damages, and that McAlister failed to mitigate or minimize her damages. Thompson requested judgment in her favor, dismissal of claims, recovery of costs, and a jury trial.
Jury Verdict
After reviewing all the testimony, evidence, and arguments, the jury issued its special verdict. They decided that Elizabeth McAlister should receive a significant award to compensate her for the physical, financial, and emotional toll of the crash.
The award broke down as follows:
Pet injury treatment costs: $4,500
Future medical expenses: $3,215,960
Past noneconomic losses (pain, suffering, emotional distress, and reduced enjoyment of life already experienced): $8,200,000
Future noneconomic losses (continued pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life): $25,000,000
The combined total came to $36,420,460.
This figure included both economic damages those with measurable costs like medical bills and pet care and noneconomic damages, which reflected the jury’s valuation of McAlister’s human losses such as pain, trauma, and the life changes brought by the accident.
Court Documents
Court documents are available for purchase upon request at [email protected]