On Friday, May 20, 2011, a San Diego jury awarded the family of Michael Mazurek $17.4 million for a wrongful death suit. In 2009, Mazurek, Commander of the United States Navy, was biking when an American Medical Response van cut him off which caused him to crash into the vehicle and was then run over by it. The jury returned a verdict of $15.8 million for the wrongful death of Mike Mazurek, in addition to a stipulated award of $1.5 million for medical expenses. The total verdict of $17.4 million, apportioned 75% blame to American Medical Response for the negligence of its driver, and 25% to Mike Mazurek. This is the largest individual wrongful death verdict ever reached in San Diego County. The Mazurek family was represented by Frank Pitre and Ara Jabagchourian. Pitre said of the verdict, “This verdict can only be considered a small consolation compared to the loss a loving wife and mother of three have had to endure.”
