Date: 10-15-2014

Case Style: Saquita Lewis v. Tulsa Public Schools

Case Number: CJ-2013-2576

Judge: Mary Fitzgerald

Court: District Court, Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Plaintiff's Attorney: Jason Reynolds

Defendant's Attorney: Doug Mann and Matt Cyran

Description: COMES NOW the Plaintiff, Saquita Lewis, Individually and as Parent and
Next Friend of J.L. and for her cause of action states as follows:
1. On or about May 9, 2012, Plaintiff, J.L., was involved in a collision with a bus owned by Defendant Tulsa Public Schools. The collision occurred in the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma.
2. The collision described above was a direct result of the negligence of Defendant’s hired bus driver in that he failed to exercise reasonable care in operating the vehicle he was driving
3. At the time of the subject collision, the bus driver was an agent, servalit,. and/or employee of Defendant Tulsa Public Schools, and was acting in that capacity, such that Tulsa Public Schools is liable for his negligence.
4. As a result of the Defendant’s negligence, by and through its agent, servant and/or employee, Plaintiff has incurred medical expenses, loss of earnings, physical pain and suffering, and mental pain and suffering, disfigurement, and property damage.
5. As a result of the above-referenced acts, the Plaintiff has been damaged in an amount in excess of $75,000.00.
6. That the Plaintiff has fully complied with the provisions of the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act, codified at 51 0.5. §ii et seq. and her claim has been denied.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, Saquita Lewis, Individually and as Parent and Next Friend of J.L., prays for judgment against the Defendant in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, plus interest, costs, and all other relief this Court deems just and equitable.

Outcome: Now on this 25 day of September, 2014, this matter comes on for hearing before the undersigned Judge of the District Court upon interiogatory responses on file in the case and statements presented by the parties The plaintiffs, Saquita Lewis (“Ms Lewis”), individully and as parent and next friend of J.L., a minor (collectively the “Plaintiffs”), and their attorney, Jason B. Reynolds of the firm GRIFFIN, REYNOLDS & ASSOCIATES, appeared. The defendant, Independent School District No. 1 of Tulsa County, Oklahoma, commonly known as Tulsa Public Schools (the “Tulsa School District” or “School District”), appeared by its attorney, Matthew P. Cyran of the firm Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold. Trial by juiy is waived by all parties.

The Court, being fully advised in the premises and having reviewed the testimony of the witness(es) by interrogatory responses, finds that a Settlement Agreement has been entered into between the parties to settle this matter for the total amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000).

The settlement proceeds in this case should be approved for distribution as follows:

1. In trust for J.L. to be distributed on attaining $1394.77
majority age

2. Care Family Medical $ 800 00

3. OSU Medical Center $ 514.81

4. Griffin, Reynolds & Associates (costs advanced) $ 623.92

5. Griffin, Reynolds & Associates (attorney’s fees) $1,666.50

Total: $500O.00

The Court finds that the settlement amount is reasonable and should be and the same is hereby approved.

The Court makes no finding regarding the issue of liability of the School District, but finds that the Settlement Agreement is reasonable insofar as the injuries and damages of the Plaintiffs are concerned,

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUI)GED AND DECREED that the Plaintiffs should be and are hereby granted judgment against the School District in the total amount of $5,000.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that from the $5,000 recovered, the firm GRIFFIN, REYNOLDS
& ASSOCIATFS, attorneys for the Plaintiffs, shall receive a total of $1,666.50 in attorney’s fees and $623.92 in administrative costs and expenses, and unpaid medical providers shall receive $1,314.81 for services rendered to the minor plaintiff, JL., and the remaining sum of $1,394.77 shall be paid to
the minor plaintiff, J.L.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: