SG+A is pleased to welcome Paul McFarlane

Scanlan Griffiths + Aldridge is pleased to welcome Paul McFarlane, who joins the firm as an of counsel attorney. Paul is an experienced litigator with over 25 years of experience in insurance defense and coverage, injury and property/casualty defense, employment, and general litigation in both state and federal courts. Welcome Paul!

Joe Aldridge and Naomi Doraisamy obtain favorable jury verdict in admitted liability case.

Joe Aldridge and Naomi Doraisamy recently obtained a favorable jury verdict in the defense of an admitted-liability trucking accident case.

The case involved a rear-end accident where the defendant truck driver was distracted by his GPS and failed to stop when traffic stopped ahead of him. The Defendants’ truck struck the rear of Plaintiff’s pickup, rendering the pickup a total loss. Plaintiff was not transported from the scene but went to the emergency room a few hours after the accident. Plaintiff is a 48-year-old male who owns a landscaping business.

Claimed injuries:

• High grade concussion with moderate traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome
• Whiplash/cervical strain
• Occipital neuralgia with resulting migraines
• Plantar plate tear in right foot
• PTSD

Claimed special damages:

• $120,000 in past medicals
• $180,000 future medicals

Claimed general damages:

• $450,000

Pre-trial offers:

• Plaintiff’s last offer before trial was approximately $500,000.
• Defendants’ last offer before trial was $155,000.

Plaintiff called treating physicians and two retained experts—an orthopedic surgeon from Salt Lake City and a neurologist from Philadelphia. Plaintiff also called fact witnesses including Plaintiff’s mother, son, and best friend. Plaintiff asked the jury for $750,000.

Defendants called an accident reconstruction and biomechanical engineering expert who testified regarding the forces involved in the accident as applied to Plaintiff’s body inside the cab of the pickup. Defendants also called a local physiatrist and a neuropsychologist who performed IMEs on the Plaintiff. Plaintiff had no outwardly visible injuries from the accident, and his credibility was at issue. Defendants called fact witnesses who were present at the accident, as well as character witnesses—including Plaintiff’s former employer and Plaintiff’s former accountant—who testified that Plaintiff had an untruthful character. Defendants argued that it was appropriate for Plaintiff to get checked out in the ER after the accident and to undergo reasonable course of physical therapy and chiropractic treatments for cervical strain. But Defendants argued the rest of Plaintiff’s medical bills were unrelated and Plaintiff did not need future medical treatment. The jury returned a verdict for $86,000, which was later reduced to $66,650 on the basis of collateral source recoveries.

SG+A team participates in 2023 Idaho Trial Skills Academy

Three SG+A attorneys recently participated in the 2023 Idaho Trial Skills Academy, a fantastic educational opportunity for young trial lawyers. Kevin Griffiths, an alumnus of the program, served as a mentor and Naomi Doraisamy and Jaime Matier completed the program as first-time participants.

This intensive program is a gathering of the finest trial lawyers and judges in Idaho, who are available to assist participants in the development of trial skills through demonstrations and practice sessions where participants receive individualized feedback on their performance. Congratulations to Naomi and Jaime for completing the program!

Jaime Matier joins SG+A

SG+A is thrilled to welcome Jaime Matier to the firm as an associate attorney.

Jaime is an experienced insurance-defense litigator. She has extensive experience in insurance coverage, insurance defense, personal injury, transportation liability, construction defect, premises liability, and employment law. She assists clients throughout Idaho. She has been in private civil practice in the Boise area since 2018.

Jaime grew up in Boise, Idaho and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Law and Political Philosophy, with minors in Philosophy and History, from Boise State University in 2012. She is a 2016 graduate of the University of Idaho College of Law.

Jamie is a graduate of the 2021-2022 class of the Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers. She is also an active member of Idaho Women Lawyers and the Richard C. Fields American Inn of Court.

Kevin Griffiths receives an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell

Kevin received the highest rating from his peers for professional excellence.

Kevin Griffiths admitted to Oregon State Bar

Kevin gained admission to the Oregon State Bar on September 7, 2021, and is now actively handling cases for clients in both Idaho and Oregon.

Kevin Scanlan named to The Best Lawyers in America list again.

Already recognized in 2020, we are pleased to announce that Kevin Scanlan has been named to The Best Lawyers in America©’s 2021’s list for “Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants” and “Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants”!