Mary went on to say she thought Gladys would end up accepting a hundred thousand dollars, not including her medical expenses, a bargain from the company’s perspective as they could sidestep the threat of a jury trial with its attendant risks.
I said, “A million bucks reduced to a hundred grand? That’s a hefty discount.”
“We see it all the time. The attorney tacks on a big price tag so the settlement will look like a good deal to us.”
“Why settle at all? Maybe if you stand your ground the woman will back off. How do you know she’s not exaggerating?”
“Possible, but not likely. She’s sixty-three years old and overweight, which is a contributing factor. With the office visits, physical therapy, chiropractic appointments, and all the medications she’s on, she’s not able to work. The doctor’s suggesting the disability may be permanent, which is going to add yet another headache.”
“What kind of work does she do? I didn’t see it mentioned.”
“It’s in there somewhere. She does billing for an assortment of small businesses.”
“Doesn’t sound lucrative. How much does she make?”
“Twenty-five thousand a year, according to her. Her tax returns are privileged, but her attorney says she can produce invoices and receipts to back up her claim.”
“And Lisa Ray says what?”
“She saw the van approach, but she felt she had ample time to make the turn, especially since Millard Fredrickson had activated his right-turn signal and slowed. Lisa started into the turn and the next thing she knew the van was bearing down on her. He estimated his speed at less than ten miles an hour, but that’s nothing to sniff at when a thirty-two-hundred-pound vehicle is banging into you. Lisa saw what was coming but couldn’t get out of the way. Millard swears it was the other way around. He says he slammed on his brakes, but Lisa had pulled out so abruptly there was no way to avoid plowing into her.”