A Portland pedestrian who was struck by a drunken driver while in a crosswalk has filed a lawsuit seeking not only the $8,100 in medical bills she racked up, but also $4,600 for the designer clothes she was wearing.

The impact left Susan L. Layne with bruises, scratches, sprains and pains across her body, and it also destroyed her Chanel handbag, Prada boots and Burberry trench coat, according to her suit.

Such a lawsuit is highly unusual for casually dressed Portland. The suit was filed earlier this month in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Several Portland personal injury attorneys contacted by The Oregonian/OregonLive said they've never had a client seek compensation for designer clothes. But a crash victim with an expensive wardrobe is entitled to a cash payout for damage -- just as someone whose damaged car, bicycle or laptop computer would be.

But even so, Portland attorney Michael Wise said he would think twice about asking a juror for thousands of dollars of compensation for designed garb, because it could turn off jurors who also are being asked to award larger sums for medical bills, and pain and suffering.

"Most jurors don't wear Prada shoes," Wise said. And that, Wise worries, could lead jurors to ponder to themselves: "If someone can afford Prada and Chanel, do they really need $8,000 for medical bills?"

On the flip side, Stephan Peskin -- a personal injury attorney in chicly dressed Manhattan -- said many clients have asked him to pursue compensation for thousands of dollars in ruined designer clothing.

"I tell them, 'Your body is worth a whole lot more, and that's what you have to concentrate on, your physical injuries,'" said Peskin, who added he wouldn't overtly ask for the clothing costs but would keep that in mind when determining the overall amount sought in a lawsuit.

There's no dispute Ian Charles Cook, a 36-year-old Roseburg resident, drove drunk and struck Layne on Feb. 5, 2015, while she was in a marked crosswalk in the Cascade Station shopping area, just east of Portland International Airport. Cook also struck a male pedestrian and drove off, then he ran through a red light and T-boned another car several blocks later, injuring two people inside.

Authorities measured Cook's blood alcohol content at .23 percent, nearly three times the legal limit.

The lawsuit alleges that before the crashes, Cook was served alcohol while visibly intoxicated at Buffalo Wild Wings on Northeast Cascades Parkway. The restaurant is listed as a defendant in Layne's suit. Representatives either did not return calls or declined to comment.

Cook couldn't be reached for comment.

Cook was charged with hit-and-run driving and other charges, but as part of a deal he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of intoxicants and four counts of third-degree assault. He was sentenced to six days in jail and to take part in the DUII Intensive Supervision Program, which requires alcohol treatment.

In addition to clothing costs and medical bills, Layne also is seeking $200,000 in pain and suffering for her debilitating injuries.

The Portland law firm of Pickett Dummigan is representing Layne. An attorney from the firm didn't return a call seeking a comment for this story.

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-- Aimee Green

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