Kafoury & McDougal recently secured a $627,500 jury verdict on behalf of our client, Celia Escalderon, following a four-day trial in Multnomah County. Prior to trial, State Farm offered only $30,000 to resolve the case. The jury returned its verdict on May 21, 2026, finding State Farm’s insured fully responsible for a collision that left Ms. Escalderon with severe tinnitus, and hyperacusis.
The crash occurred on Powell Boulevard near Hogan Road. Ms. Escalderon was traveling westbound at approximately 30 to 35 miles per hour when the defendant abruptly moved out of a left-turn-only lane and T-boned the driver’s side of Ms. Escalderon’s vehicle, bringing it to a complete stop. Although defense attorneys Sarah Garrett and Cristen Campbell attempted to characterize the collision as a minor sideswipe, the evidence presented at trial showed a much more significant impact. Both drivers agreed that Ms. Escalderon’s vehicle came to an abrupt stop following the collision.
Liability was a central issue at trial. The defendant claimed she checked her mirrors and looked over her shoulder before changing lanes but never saw Ms. Escalderon’s vehicle. The jury heard evidence that Ms. Escalderon’s car was plainly visible and lawfully traveling in its lane when the collision occurred. After considering all of the evidence, the jury assigned full responsibility for the crash to the defendant.
The defense also disputed the extent of Ms. Escalderon’s injuries and argued that the collision caused no significant harm. However, the medical evidence demonstrated that the forces involved in the crash were sufficient to cause traumatic brain injury, whiplash, and chronic lasting tinnitus. Ms. Escalderon developed chronic tinnitus and hyperacusis following the collision, conditions that have continued to affect her daily life years later.
Expert witness Marsha Johnson described the reality of living with tinnitus in stark terms: “Living with tinnitus is like taking a high-pitched smoke alarm and strapping it to your head.” That description resonated with jurors who heard how the persistent ringing had reshaped nearly every aspect of Ms. Escalderon’s daily life.
The defense, whose retention costs on their expert witnesses exceeded $50,000, called multiple individuals in an attempt minimize Ms. Escalderon’s injuries. Defense expert Dr. Harold Kim ultimately conceded that Ms. Escalderon did suffer from tinnitus and hyperacusis—but maintained the accident was not forceful enough to have caused them. Defense expert Dr. John Ballard testified that Ms. Escalderon had no whiplash and no neck complaints until two months after the crash, despite documentation showing she complained of neck injuries both on the day of the accident and at her second treatment appointment. Defense expert Zoe Villamar testified she was “100%” certain the force of the accident could not have caused a concussion—a claim the jury strongly rejected.
At trial, jurors heard how the persistent ringing in Ms. Escalderon’s ears interfered with many of the activities she once enjoyed. The condition affected her ability to spend meaningful time with her grandchildren, go shopping, and participate in everyday social activities. What might appear to some as an invisible injury became a constant and life-altering presence for Ms. Escalderon.
We are proud to have represented Ms. Escalderon and grateful that the jury carefully considered the evidence and the impact these injuries have had on her life.