David Gould Wins Directed Defense Verdict in Nassau County

On February 23, 2016, David Gould won a directed defense verdict in State Farm a/s/o Guzzo v. Munoz, Index NO. CV12044-2014 (Dist. Ct. Nassau County). The plaintiff claimed that while driving through a green light, another vehicle drove through a red light and struck her vehicle. The other vehicle left the scene of the accident. The insurance carrier sought property damages in subrogation for damage to the plaintiff’s vehicle from the defendant based on two eyewitnesses who chased after the vehicle and took down a license plate number that matched that of the defendant’s vehicle. At the close of the plaintiff’s case, Mr. Gould made a motion for a directed verdict dismissing the case and argued that there was no proof that the defendant or her vehicle struck the plaintiff because neither eyewitness was called to testify and the police report was inadmissible hearsay. The judge granted the motion and dismissed the case.