CVN screenshot of plaintiff attorney William Gilmore showing a computer animation of the accident during his opening statement
San Bernardino, CA - A California state court jury heard opening statements Wednesday in a trial to determine the amount of damages owed to a woman run over by an Amazon delivery van in a parking lot, and the proceedings are being webcast gavel-to-gavel by Courtroom View Network.
Plaintiff Anita Sun Eisenberg sued Amazon following a 2018 accident, where an Amazon van ran over her left leg. Amazon conceded liability for the accident leaving jurors tasked solely with determining the amount of damages owed to Eisenberg.
Eisenberg’s attorney William Gilmore of Strassburg Gilmore & Wei LLP told jurors he would seek between $20 and $25 million at the conclusion of the trial as compensation for what he characterized as a severe crush injury to Eisenberg’s leg, injuries to her neck and back, and a subsequent condition known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS.
Eisenberg, 43, works as an entrepreneur and beauty aesthetician. Shortly before the accident she appeared on the popular reality television show Shark Tank, and Gilmore played a clip of her appearance for the jury.
Amazon’s attorney Peter Hughes of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP told jurors that while Amazon agrees she suffered a serious injury to her ankle and leg that the company disputes her claim of having CRPS in addition to the severity of her other alleged injuries. He said $1.3 million would fairly compensate Eisenberg.
CVN screenshot of defense attorney Peter Hughes delivering his opening statement
Both sides addressed in their openings covert surveillance video that private investigators hired by Amazon took of Eisenberg. Gilmore described it as an attempt by a large corporation to avoid taking adequate responsibility for Eisenberg’s injuries, but Hughes argued Amazon had a right to confirm statements Eisenberg made under oath about the severity of her injuries.
The trial before Judge John Pacheco is expected to last two weeks, and CVN will remain present for the duration of the proceedings.
The case is captioned Eisenberg v. Amazon, case number CIVDS1902556 in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
E-mail David Siegel at dsiegel@cvn.com