Nguyen
Nguyen v. LOS ANGELES CTY. HARBOR/UCLA MED. CTR.
Opinion
Opinion
David M. Harney, Thomas Kallay, Robert H. Pourvali, Esner, Zakheim & Higa, Esner, Marylander, Zakheim & Higa, Rosalyn S. Zakheim and Stuart B. Esner for Movant and Appellant.
Riordan & McKinzie, Jeffrey L. Glassman and H. Jay Kallman for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O'Keefe & Nichols, George E. Peterson, Greines, Martin, Stein & Rinchland, Kent L. Richland and Barbara S. Perry for Defendant and Respondent.
OPINION
JOHNSON, J.
The parties call on us to decide two separate but related issues: (1) May a final judgment providing for periodic payments of future damages be amended at the request of the plaintiff to require a cash advance against future damages in the amount necessary to pay her attorney fees? (2) In determining the maximum attorney fees allowable under MICRA, [1] how should the trial court calculate the "total value" of periodic payments of future damages? We have concluded the trial court cannot amend the final judgment in this case to alter the schedule of periodic payments of damages in order that plaintiff's attorney can recover his fees immediately. We have further concluded that for purposes of calculating the maximum attorney fees…