Snover

Filed 11/18/

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FOUR

ADRIA SNOVER, as represented, etc., A172568 Plaintiff and Appellant, v. (Riverside County Super. ARUNA GUPTA, Ct. No. RIC1905783) Defendant and Respondent.

Adria Snover, through her spouse and guardian ad litem Jordan Callihan, appeals from a judgment awarding her $4,353,225 in damages against Dr. Aruna Gupta. She sued after medical complications during a cesarean section left her in a permanent coma. The jury awarded her close to $7.5 million in economic damages and $10 million in noneconomic damages. Before trial, she reached settlements with another doctor and with Riverside Community Hospital (the hospital). On appeal, she asserts three errors in the way the trial court reduced the damages award to account for the pretrial settlements and the jury’s finding that Gupta’s proportionate responsibility for Snover’s injury was 15 percent, with other tortfeasors 85 percent at fault. Snover’s first claim of error arises from the…