August 29, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE – QPWB successfully defended a commercial bus company in a complex personal injury lawsuit, securing a decisive defense verdict that significantly limited the client’s financial exposure. Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner David Tarlow and Associate Carlos Rocha tried the case, which centered on causation and damages after liability was admitted by the defense.

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Overview of the Case

The lawsuit was initiated by a single mother, who sued for damages to both herself and her minor son. The claim stemmed from a rear-end collision where their vehicle was struck by a 14,000-pound bus while they were stopped at a red light. The lawsuit claimed severe and life-altering injuries for both the mother and child. The total past medical bills alone exceeded $400,000.

Key Difference-Makers:
● David Tarlow - Managing Partner, Fort Lauderdale Hub
● Carlos Rocha - Associate, Fort Lauderdale Hub

Claims Made Against Our Client

The plaintiff’s claims asserted that both herself and her minor son sustained severe injuries in the collision. The mother claimed a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which was allegedly supported by an abnormal DTI scan of her brain. She also claimed physical injuries, which required extensive treatment including therapy, epidural injections, and a three-level disk replacement. The minor child similarly claimed a traumatic brain injury that, according to the lawsuit, resulted in him developing epilepsy with accompanying focal seizures. The plaintiff sought substantial compensation for past medical bills that totaled approximately $400,000.

Defense Strategy

With liability admitted, the defense team focused entirely on disputing causation and damages. For the child’s claim, the defense successfully used a physics-based argument to show that the head injury could not have been sustained as described. As to the mother, the defense highlighted inconsistencies in her discovery responses, arguing that she was not truthful about prior accidents and treatments, which undermined her claim to have sustained a brain injury from this specific collision.

Impact on Final Outcome

The jury delivered a split verdict that was highly favorable to the defense. It found that the admitted negligence was not the legal cause of the child's injury or damages, resulting in a complete defense verdict on that claim. As for the mother, the jury found that the admitted negligence was the legal cause of her injury but awarded only $15,000 for past medicals and zero dollars for future medical expenses, as well as past and future pain and suffering.

Unique Aspects of the Case

This verdict is a powerful example of a defense strategy that successfully challenges causation even when liability is conceded. The use of a physics-based argument to defeat the minor's claim for a traumatic brain injury and the focus on the Plaintiff’s credibility proved to be highly effective.

Predicting the Future

This victory provides a strong precedent for challenging causation and damages in cases where liability is admitted. The Fort Lauderdale team’s success demonstrates the firm’s ability to strategically minimize exposure for clients through proper discovery efforts, even in highly emotional cases.

Key Actions in This Case

● Successfully tried a case on causation and damages only
● Used a physics-based argument to secure a complete defense verdict on one claim
● Successfully challenged a plaintiff’s credibility to limit damages on a second claim

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About QPWB

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. is one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States providing a different focus on what it means to provide responsive service to clients and team members. With a national presence of 54 offices and a comprehensive scope of over 130 practice areas, QPWB delivers legal representation in litigation, regulatory, and corporate matters to a diverse range of industries. This scope and rapid expansion has attracted unique legal talent from all different backgrounds and experiences which has made them the largest minority-owned law firm in the country.