Ten recent truck verdicts in 2015 achieved verdicts collectively exceeding $100 million.
* Sante Fe Jury awards FedEx crash victims record $165M
– http://krqe.com/2015/01/23/santa-fe-jury-awards-fedex-crash-victims-record-165m/
* $34.5 Million Jury Verdict Against Landstar Ranger, Inc. in Truck Crash That Resulted in Lower Leg Amputation
– http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150129006710/en/ Panish-Shea-Boyle-LLP-Announces-34.5-Million#.VUTdBzfDfq0
* Watts Guerra, LLP Announces Jury Award of $19.25 Million in Truck Wreck Case
– http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150317006469/en/Watts-Guerra-LLP-Announces-Jury-Award-19.25#.VUTdmzfDfq0
* Family of man killed in train crash awarded $19 million
– http://www.kfvs12.com/story/28935770/family-of-man-killed-in-train-crash-awarded-20-million
* Walmart Pays $10 Million to Family of Comedian Killed in Tracy Morgan Crash
– http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/21/nyregion/walmart-pays-10-million-to-family-of-comedian-killed-in-tracy-morgan-crash.html?_r=0
* Court Upholds $10 Million Verdict in Truck Crash Case
– thetimes-tribune.com—court-upholds-10-million-verdict-in-truck-crash-case-1.1830370
* Jury awards $7.7M to woman in 2012 wreck
– http://madisoncourier.com/Content/News/News/Article/Jury-awards-7-7M-to-woman-in-2012-wreck/178/961/89886
* Jury awards $4 million in S.F. bicyclist’s death
– http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jury-awards-4-million-in-San-Francisco-6018990.php
* Edison woman gets $1.1M verdict after truck drags her car in ’09 crash
– http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/01/middlesex_county_ civil_jury_verdict_car_crash.html
* Case settles for $950K after partial verdict against driver of parked truck on BQE
– http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/4/29/sketches-court- case-settles-950k-after-partial-verdict-against-driver-parked
These ten cases in 2015 follow numerous other large truck wreck verdicts in 2014, including, among others:
* Jury awards $42 million verdict to victims of 2010 crash
– http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2014/10/ jury_awards_42_million_verdict.html
* Fatal Landstar accident leads to $15 million verdict
– http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/08/27/fatal-landstar-accident-leads-to-15-million.html?page=all
* Calhoun man wins $8.5 million verdict against Floyd Management
– http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/calhoun-man-…oyd-management/article_56f63f10-81c9-11e4-8f23-3b91303c14d1.html
* Nevada firm could pay $5.5 million in Amtrak crash
– http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada/nevada-firm-could-pay-55-million-amtrak-crash
* $4.1 Verdict Against R&L Carriers in Texas Crash
– http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2014/04/4-1-verdict-against-rl-carriers-in-texas-crash.aspx
* Jury awards man $1 million verdict for Rangeline Road crash with UPS delivery truck
– http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/ jury_awards_man_1_million_verd.html
Other notable recent verdicts include:
* 210 Freeway Crash Victim Awarded $150.75 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Verdict
– http://patch.com/california/montrose/210-freeway-crash-victim-awarded-15075-million-in-wrongful-lawsuit-verdict
* Jury Awards Lawyer and Wife $16.5M for Crash With Logging Truck
– http://www.dailyreportonline.com/id=1202719784785/Jury-Awards-La…d-Wife-165M-for-Crash-With-Logging-Truck?slreturn=20150402101840
* Flagler widower wins $5.1 million verdict in deadly truck wreck
– http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-13/story/flagler_widower_wins_51_million_verdict_in_deadly_truck_wreck
With respect to the $19.25 million verdict achieved in March 2015 by Watts Guerra LLP, the firm’s press release included the following:
March 17, 2015 05:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time
SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A Maricopa County jury in Mesa, Arizona returned a $19.25 million verdict against interstate trucking company, Landstar Ranger, Inc. Brought by Kathy Bruno, surviving spouse of Michael Bruno, his daughters Renee Bruno and Anne Bruno, his mother, Nina Bruno, and family friend, Desiree Sierra, the case involved a crash between the Brunos’ pick-up and a tractor-trailer operated by Landstar.
Landstar’s driver, Willard Gray, had parked his vehicle on the unpaved shoulder, or apron, of U.S. Highway 93, even though a 60-foot wide pull-out area was available immediately adjacent to where he chose to park. The Brunos’ vehicle suffered a right-front Michelin tire delamination, causing the vehicle to pull off the roadway. Michael Bruno unsuccessfully tried to steer the vehicle back on the road, but instead hit the back of the Landstar trailer forcing him under the trailer when the rear under-ride guard built by Hyundai failed.
The jury found Landstar solely at fault, found Bruno was not negligent, and awarded the various passengers of the vehicle almost $20 million in wrongful death and personal injury damages.
Guy Watts, of Austin, Texas, and Mikal Watts, of San Antonio, Texas, of WATTS GUERRA, LLP, and Brett Slavicek of THE SLAVICEK LAW FIRM in Phoenix, Arizona, and Alan Wilson of THE WILSON LAW FIRM in Tempe, Arizona, tried the case for the Plaintiffs.
Phillip Stanfield and Jeremy Johnson of JONES, SKELTON & HOCHULI in Phoenix, Arizona, tried the case for Defendant Landstar Ranger, Inc.
Guy Watts stated, “We are pleased to bring justice to the Bruno family, who lost a good man for no good reason. If this truck was not parked just off the road, he’d be alive and well today.”
Mikal Watts stated: “The jury’s verdict sends an important message to trucking companies about the critical importance of training their drivers to park as far off the traveled portion of the roadway as possible. It is well known to this industry that vehicles with mechanical difficulties will from time-to-time, exit the traveled portion of the roadway, and require a clear-out area, to enable them to recover. When an 80,000 pound tractor-trailer is parked in an area where it should not be, this creates an unnecessary hazard which can cost good people their lives.”
Written by:
Mikal C. Watts
Watts Guerra LLP
4 Dominion Drive, Bldg 3, Suite 100
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Phone (210) 447-0500
Email mcwatts@guerrallp.com
* This information is provided to supply relevant information concerning a truck wreck lawsuit lawsuit, and should not be received as legal advice. Legal advice is only given to persons or entities with whom Watts Guerra LLP has established an attorney-client relationship. If you have another lawyer in a trucking lawsuit, you should consult with your own attorney, and rely upon his or her advice, rather than the information contained herein.
© Watts Guerra LLP 2015
