Sprewell To Pay $105,000

September 30, 1999 / 2:30 AM EDT / CBS/AP

New York Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell was ordered Tuesday to pay about $105,000 to a man and woman injured in a highway wreck that he admittedly caused.

But Sprewell was not ordered by a Contra Costa County Superior Court jury to pay the couple punitive damages, which could have been costly to the former Golden State Warrior.

Arnulfo Perlas, 55, and Irma Feliciano, 54, were reportedly seeking total damages of $3.5 million, according to Sprewell's attorney.

Nine members of the jury said Sprewell did not act with malice or oppression in the March 1, 1998, accident.

Perlas was awarded about $75,000 for economic and non-economic damages. Feliciano was awarded $30,000 mostly in economic damages.

Perlas and Feliciano were treated for minor injuries after the wreck. But they testified the accident caused nightmares, depression and problems with relationships.

Sprewell admitted in court that he caused the accident when he tried to drive his Mercedes-Benz back on the freeway from an exit-only lane near Walnut Creek.

He pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which he served under electronic detention at his Milwaukee home.

In closing arguments Monday, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys said Sprewell has no remorse, and should pay the two $450,000 in actual damages plus two months of his $9 million salary in punitive damages.

Sprewell's attorney, Richard Valerian, argued the plaintiffs' lawyers wanted to make the minimal injuries appear to be major and concealed the total amount they want: $3.5 million. Valerian suggested giving them $30,000.