Martha Pedroza v. United States

I. INTRODUCTION

23 Plaintiff Martha Pedroza initiated this negligence action against Defendant United States of America under the Federal Tort Claims Act for injuries she sustained when she » was struck by a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery truck. Having considered the evidence, the parties’ objections to the evidence, the credibility of the trial

witnesses, and both parties’ arguments at trial, the Court finds in favor of Plaintiff and awards her damages in the total amount of $677,744. 3 II. FINDINGS OF FACT 5 A. Plaintiff’s Prior Accident and Injuries 7 On December 1, 2017, Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident. (Trial Transcript, Day Two, Volume One [hereinafter “D2 V1”] at 130:5-7.) After the accident, Plaintiff went to Pomona Valley Hospital and complained of pain in her neck, or cervical spine, and lower back, or lumbar spine. (Ex. 501.) In July 2018, Plaintiff was diagnosed with sciatica in her lumbar spine. (Exs. 508, 509; D2 V1 at 133:12-15.) Plaintiff received epidural injections in her lumbar spine to treat her sciatica. (D2 V1 at 19:4-8.) Plaintiff received her final…