At around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2014, plaintiff Carolyn Howland, 23, a paralegal, brought her vehicle to a stop at the intersection of Antonio Parkway and Avenida de las Banderas, in Rancho Santa Margarita. While stopped at the stoplight, her vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by Daniel Dekeyser. Howland claimed to her neck and head. Howland sued Dekeyser, alleging that Dekeyser was negligent in the operation of his vehicle. Dekeyser did not deny liability., Howland claimed that she sustained neck strains. She subsequently treated at a walk-in urgent care clinic. However, she claimed that she developed occipital neuralgia — a medical condition characterized by chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the eyes – which caused her to suffer intermittent headaches. As a result, Howland was administered nerve block injections, which allegedly provided little relief. She was then transferred to a pain management specialist for additional care. Howland was placed off of work for several months. Thus, she sought recovery of $4,888.27 in lost wages and $9,501.04 in past medical expenses. She also sought recovery of damages for her pain and suffering. Defense counsel disputed both the full extent of Howland’s alleged and whether Howland’s were causally-related to the subject accident.