Litigants and lawyers have been taking a gamble on instant justice in The Bronx, rolling the dice on one-day jury trials. Win or lose, they say they’ve come out ahead.
Patricia Brennan, who hurt her neck in 2002 when her car was rear-ended in The Bronx, liked the speed of the Summary Jury Trial Program there, the first of its kind in the city.
“I thought it was a bada bing, bada boom, pardon my expression,” said the nurse, who won $75,000. “I think it’s a great thing.”
Since the pilot program’s inception last summer, about 100 cases have been heard, Administrative Judge Barry Salman said.
“I am particularly pleased at its success to date,” Salman said.
Attorneys say they wouldn’t put a quadriplegic’s injuries in for quick justice, but a fender bender that could go both ways is a good candidate.