All defense counsel have at one time or another experienced the exhilaration that comes from discovering, as a result of a deep dive into a claimant’s prior medical records,  that (1) the serious personal injuries alleged by the plaintiff are in fact the result of an aggravation of a serious pre-existing disease or injury and (2) but for the pre-existing disease or injury the present disability and/or impairment claimed would not have resulted.  You advise the client of the gravity of the pre-existing disease or injury.   In response, the client asks defense counsel whether the disclosure of the pre-existing condition warrants downgrading the … Continue reading →