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Jury awards $15.7 million to ex-cop in cycle-truck crash By Susan Abram, Staff Writer Article Last Updated: 12/26/2007 11:02:36 PM PST A retired police officer has won a $15.7 million jury verdict against the city of Los Angeles for injuries he suffered in a collision with a dump truck in Northridge three years ago, attorneys announced Wednesday. Barry Bowman, 62, suffered severe brain damage in the crash at Vanalden and Wilbur avenues in Northridge on Oct. 13, 2004. His attorneys said he was on his way home on a motorcycle from working as a security officer on a movie set when a dump truck collided with Bowman and his bike. But attorney John DeGomez, who represented the city in the trial, said Bowman collided with the dump truck, driven by Tommy Wyatt. "Mr. Bowman struck the dump truck," DeGomez contended. "He ran into the wheel well of the dump truck and sustained brain injuries. The dump truck was traveling 2 to 3 miles per hour." Attorneys also disagreed on whether the city was responsible. Wyatt was contracted by the city but an independent worker, DeGomez said. "The question was: Was the city deemed to be the employer?" said Michael Alder, one of Bowman's attorneys. "The jury found that (the city was)." Bowman had been a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department for almost 30 years. His speciality had been flying helicopters. He also was a Vietnam veteran, his attorneys said. The jury awarded him nearly $5 million for past and future medical care and $11 million for pain and emotional distress. The verdict was handed down on Thursday at the Chatsworth Courthouse.
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