On April 28, 2008, at around 3:30 p.m., plaintiff Lisa Panagos, 47, an actress/singer, was driving her BMW toward an intersection when she made a stop on La Cienga Boulevard in West Hollywood and was rear-ended by a Honda Civic operated by Rebecca Steiner. Panagos claimed to her ribs, knee, jaw and lower back. Panagos sued Steiner, alleging the defendant was negligent in the operation of her motor vehicle. The parties initally agreed to settle prior to trial and a check was issued to Panagos. However, Panagos ultimately declined the settlement, and the court rescheduled the matter for trial. At trial, Panagos contended that Steiner failed to stop in ample time to avoid striking her vehicle. According to defense counsel, Panagos also claimed that Steiner sped up, instead of slowing down, prior to the accident. Steiner claimed she did not realize Panagos had suddenly stopped abruptly. She further claimed that she attempted to slow down before the crash, but was unable to slow enough before striking Panagos’ vehicle., fter exchanging information with Steiner, Panagos presented to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She claimed she injured a knee and fractured the ribs on her left side, as well as suffered herniated cervical discs at the C2-3 and C3-4 levels, and lumber and thoracic sprains and strains. She also claimed she suffered from myofacial pain syndrome (a chronic form of muscle pain), temporomandibular joint disorder, headaches and depression as a result of the accident. Panagos alleged that her condition prevented her from working as an actress, so she was forced to relocate to Maryland. She later moved back to California and set up a business. Thus, plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award Panagos $120,000 in damages. According to defense counsel, Panagos also claimed $200,000 in loss of earnings. Defense counsel argued that Panagos’ were grossly exaggerated, and contradicted by her own records and the testimony of the defense’s expert orthopedic surgeon. Counsel contended that there was no evidence that Panagos was treated for her knee or rib , and that she suffered from degenerative disc disease and other pre-existing . The defense’s biomechanical expert disputed the alleged mechanics of Panagos’ . He demonstrated that the force and mechanics of the impact could not have caused the that Panagos alleged. Defense counsel also argued that Panagos exaggerated her alleged claims of loss of earnings and career opportunities, and presented a 4-minute independent film starring Panagos as evidence of this.