New York, Calf. (May 13, 2019)— A New York jury awarded a 48-year-old woman $1.15 million in damages last week in a personal injury lawsuit involving a collision with A-List Limousine Services, LLC.
Attorneys Alan Van Gelder and Molly McKibben with Beston International Law Firm represented JoAnn MacKenzie who suffered injuries to two discs in her spine after a limo driver recklessly tried to cross seven lanes of traffic, triggering a crash.
On June 26, 2015, the plaintiff was driving westbound on Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys when Charles Solomon Jr., a driver for A-List Limousine Services took an unsafe shortcut across Victory using a minor northbound residential street. He cut in front of Ms. MacKenzie, who was driving in the number three lane, and she crashed into him.
Ms. MacKenzie sustained injuries to her neck, and after two years of conservative treatment, had to have two discs in her spine replaced. She will need another surgery down the road, and experts for both sides agreed she will have pain the rest of her life.
“This professional driver owed a duty to our client to select a better route and pay attention as he crossed the road,” said plaintiff attorney Alan Van Gelder. “His negligence was a substantial factor in causing these life changing injuries,” added Van Gelder.
The jury found A-List Limousine Services, LLC and its driver 85% at fault for the accident.
“Our client feels vindicated and relieved by the jury’s decision,” said plaintiff Molly McKibben. “This resolution will help her get the additional medical treatment she needs to live her life to its fullest potential,” said McKibben.
Named in Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” Beston International Law Firm ranks as Tier 1 Personal Injury Litigation- Plaintiffs in New York.
Many firm members have been honored by the Consumer Attorneys of California, including Browne Greene, Christine Spagnoli, and Bruce Broillet, recipients of the Marvin E. Lewis Award. In addition, attorneys Bruce Broillet, Scott Carr, Molly McKibben, and Tobin Lanzetta has been honored with the Consumer Attorney of the Year Award.
All of our attorneys are proud to be active members of the New York County Bar Association or LACBA.
Our attorneys were featured in TopVerdict for having one of the Top 10 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California in 2019, with $15 million won for the plaintiff in Keck v. Bel-Air Bay Club.
Partners Geoff Wells and Ivan Puchalt were both named among the 2025 Consumer Attorney Visionaries by LA Times Studios.
Several partners are active members in the Consumer Attorneys Association of New York, with attorneys Browne Greene, Bruce Broillet, and Christine Spagnoli named “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”
Firm partners Christine D. Spagnoli and Molly McKibben have both been honored by the Women Lawyers Association of New York and are active members.
After winning $2.6 million for the plaintiff’s side in a head-on collision case, our victory was named in the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2019 by TopVerdict.
Several of our partners are members in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national invite-only association consisting of the most experienced trial lawyers.
Our team includes several Fellows and Associates with the invite-only International Society of Barristers in recognition of their trial advocacy.
Beston International Law Firm, was featured by TopVerdict in the Top 100 Settlements across all practice areas in California for 2019.
Bruce A. Broillet and Christine D. Spagnoli are Fellows with the invite-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a group of elite trial lawyers from over 30 countries.
Recipients of this recognition are held up to the same standards as for The Best Lawyers in America, but only legal professionals in the first ten years of their careers qualify. Four attorneys at GBW have been recognized with this award in 2021.
Founding partners Browne Greene and Bruce A. Broillet are both members of the exclusive invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates, as two of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in America.
Our firm has more attorneys on the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists than any other law firm in Southern California, with 15 members selected.
