On August 12, 2003, plaintiff sustained personal injuries as a result of
a motor vehicle accident occurring on S. Las Vegas Blvd. at or near the
intersection of Silverado Ranch Road in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plaintiffs
included Mr. Louis Gentile, his wife Diane Gentile, and their three minor
children, Gina Gentile, Christine Gentile, and Vincent Gentile.Plaintiffs
were on their way to the airport for a planned trip to Disneyland. the
vehicle in which plaintiffs traveled, a 2001 Buick Century, was owned
and operated by plaintiff Louis Gentile’s father, Pat Gentile.As
the Gentiles traveled to the airport on S. Las Vegas Blvd, defendant Curtis
Lee Hines made an illegal left hand turn across S. Las Vegas Blvd. in
front of the approaching Gentile vehicle. Mr. Hines was operating a 2000
Ford F-450 commercial pickup truck.
The Nevada Highway Patrol responded to the scene of the accident, and after
performing a thorough investigation, issued a citation against defendant
Curtis Lee Hines (who was employed by co-defendant, Ozzie’s Pipeline
Padder, Inc.).
Defendant was found to have failed to yield the right of way by making
an unsafe left turn in front of the oncoming vehicle operated by Pat Gentile.
As a result of the accident, plaintiffs initiated suit in the United States
District Court for the District of Nevada, asserting damages for general
negligence. The Gentiles retained Mr. Randall H. Scarlett of the Scarlett
Law Group.
Defendants contended that they were not at fault for causing the subject
accident, and defendants Curtis Lee Hines and Ozzie’s Pipeline Padder,
Inc. filed a third party complaint against Pat Gentile.
Plaintiff, Louis Gentile, sustained cervical and lumbar injuries. Mr. Gentile
underwent a two level fusion of his cervical spine and underwent a lumbar
disc replacement at L4/L5. He also sustained a concussion immediately
following the accident, though he returned to full pre-morbid levels of
functionality.
Plaintiff, Diane Gentile, sustained bruising and contusions at the scene
of the accident. There was a questionable loss of consciousness, though
she was fully functional following the accident. After release from the
ER, Diane Gentile received limited physical therapy.
Minor plaintiff, Vincent Gentile, sustained emotional distress as a result
of his contemporaneous observation of his family members’ injuries.
Minor plaintiff, Gina Gentile, sustained bruising to her neck and left
chest area as a result of the shoulder restraint system. She also sustained
soft tissue injuries to her lumbar spine. She underwent limited physical
therapy for her injuries.
Minor plaintiff, Christine Gentile, received a concussion as a result of
the subject accident. She underwent limited neuropsychological treatment,
but fortunately, had returned to pre-morbid levels of functionality by
the time of the settlement.
Total medical expenses as a result of the accident for all plaintiffs was
approximately $300,000.