Herman B. was hurt in a T-bone crash by a speeding driver. At 83 years of age, Herman’s case was complicated by pre-existing medical conditions. But the at-fault driver’s insurance company went beyond that and said Herman’s injuries were pre-existing and therefore they wouldn’t pay. So Dianne Sawaya filed a lawsuit to make the insurer live up to its obligations. The insurer’s defense lawyers hammered Herman during the trial preparations, trying to wear him down and get him to accept a low settlement. When they realized that wouldn’t happen, they agreed to Dianne Sawaya’s reasonable settlement offer to avoid a jury trial.

Settlement: $150,000