On Sept. 12, 2017, plaintiff Anna Ciuca, a 39-year-old unemployed woman, was driving on Victoria Street, near its intersection at Pomona Avenue, in Costa Mesa. Her car’s rear end was struck by a trailing sport utility vehicle that was being driven by Christina Milucky. Ciuca claimed that she suffered of her back and neck. Ciuca sued Milucky. The lawsuit alleged that Milucky was negligent in the operation of her vehicle. Ciuca claimed that the accident was a result of Milucky having failed to exercise due caution. Milucky initially blamed the sun’s glare, but defense counsel ultimately conceded liability. The matter proceeded to damages., Ciuca was transported to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, in the city of Newport Beach. She claimed that her left shoulder and her neck were painful, and she also claimed that her arms were cold and numb. She underwent minor treatment. Ciuca ultimately claimed that she suffered trauma that produced protrusions of her C4-5, C5-6 and L5-S1 intervertebral discs. She claimed that she developed residual impingement of spinal nerves and resultant radiculopathy that involved numbness of her arms and legs. She also claimed that she developed headaches, insomnia, nausea and vomition. Ciuca underwent chiropractic treatment and the administration of two epidural injections of steroid-based painkillers, but she claimed that she suffered ongoing pain related to the accident. On Oct. 30, 2019, Ciuca underwent surgery that included a discectomy — which involved excision of her C4-5 and C5-6 discs — and fusion of the corresponding levels of her spine. On Feb. 17, 2020, Ciuca underwent fusion of her spine’s L5-S1 level. She later required an angioplasty for the removal of a residual clot, and she underwent implantation of a filter intended to resolve further clots. She also required implantation of a neurostimulator, which is a device that provides pain-relieving stimulation of spinal nerves. Ciuca claimed that her neck remains painful. She sought recovery of $9,812.54 for vehicular damage related to the accident, $1.4 million for past medical expenses, and unspecified damages for past and future pain and suffering.