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Laura Fettig of Lawndale claimed she was walking on 98th street in Westchester when she was “hit” by a Hilton Garden Inn LAX mini bus. Defendant Hilton argued the bus never hit Fettig, but that this was a case of road rage. Fettig was angry the bus driver cut her off and then proceeded to fake her injuries.
Fettig claimed the accident caused her to suffer “foreign accent syndrome” two months afterwards, she began speaking in a foreign accent. Fettig said she had been born and raised in the U.S., but she spoke to the jury in some sort of European accent. When the jury was not there, Fettig’s accent changed.
Only about 100 people have been diagnosed with “foreign accent syndrome” since it was first diagnosed in 1907.
Before the jury gave its decision, Fettig settled her case.
Thereafter, Fettig sued her attorney because she claimed they forced her to agree to the settlement. The Court of Appeals dismissed her complaint because she agreed to the settlement in open court.
The Court of Appeals had this to say about Fettig’s case:
“The transcript reveals her account of the accident was unclear. Hilton’s cross-examination inflicted further damage. Fettig had little lost income; she was on disability at the time. She offered no medical bills. The trial court’s exercise of discretion was sound. The court properly denied Fettig’s motion for reconsideration."
May 4, 2025
THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION EIGHT
LAURA FETTIG, Plaintiff and Appellant v. HILTON GARDEN INN MANAGEMENT, Defendants and Respondents
B307348
Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BC596162
APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Armen Tamzarian, Judge.
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