Defense prevails in rear-end collision case as jury fixates on damages

After a jury was stuck in a debate over damages, the defendant in a motor vehicle collision with a minor won her case.

Angel Mata, represented by James C. Meyers and Niki T. Long of Franke Schultz & Mullen in Kansas City, was involved in a rear-end crash with A.B. (a minor). Meyers said the crash happened in the middle of morning rush hour on I-35 in Johnson County, Kansas in 2023.

Traffic slowed and Mata collided with the back of the plaintiff’s car.

A.B. and her mother Rikita Holmes, as next friend, asked for $3,215,283.00 in opening and closing arguments during the jury trial, claiming A.B. suffered back and spine injuries. A chiropractor testified as plaintiffs’ expert witness.

“Overall, I think what led to the verdict was the plaintiff’s damages and their presentation of their damages was, in my view, wanting of supporting evidence,” he said. “They were going after future damages. They did not submit any medical billings to the jury and they had two witnesses.”

One of these two witnesses was Holmes who described A.B.’s experience, and the other was a chiropractor who appeared via videotaped depositions.

“In my presentation of the evidence, I pretty much pointed out how the chiropractor expert that they were relying on seemed to change his opinions from one deposition to the other and didn’t really lend any credence to the future damages that they were asking the jury to return,” Meyers said.

The amount demanded juxtaposed by the evidence presented seemed to confuse the jury, he added.

“What I think they got hung up on was on the verdict director, the word damages,” Meyers said. “I think they just got hung up on that, and they weren’t able to return a verdict without any real competent evidence and damages is kind of my suspicion.”

Gage Fletcher, of the Fletcher Law Office in Kansas City, represented A.B. and Holmes and did not respond to a request for comment.

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Amount of verdict, judgment or settlement: Defense verdict

Type of action: Motor vehicle collision

Breakdown: Plaintiff asked for $3,215,283.00 in opening and closing during their trial by jury.

Venue: Jackson County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 2416-CV15690 / 01/14/2026

Judge:  Patrick Edwards

Plaintiffs’ Experts: Dr. Shane Bisson, DC, chiropractor with Acute Injury Rehab a/k/a Auto Accident Urgent Care in Leawood, Kansas.

Defendants’ Experts: Dr. David Clymer, MD, orthopedic surgeon with Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance in Overland, Kansas.

Injuries: Back, spine.

Last Pretrial Demand: $100,000

Last Pretrial Offer: Policy Limits ($25,000)

Caption: A.B., A minor, by and through her Next Friend and Mother, Rikita Holmes v. Angel Mata

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys: Gage Fletcher of the Fletcher Law Office, Kansas City.

Defendants’ Attorneys: James C. Meyers & Niki T. Long of Franke Schultz & Mullen, Kansas City.