Santa Rosa County Jury Issues Defense Verdict in Rear-End Collision

On October 5, 1994, a vehicle collision occurred near the intersection of Highway 98 and Bayshore Drive in Santa Rosa County. The plaintiff, a passenger in one vehicle, sustained injuries when their vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle, owned by the defendant and driven by the defendant's daughter. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the alleged injuries.

During the proceedings, the defendant asserted that the plaintiff failed to meet the required tort threshold for permanent injury and was also entitled to collateral source set-offs. Both sides presented expert testimony; the plaintiff called a chiropractic expert, while the defendant presented orthopedic surgery and radiology experts. Following a trial, a jury determined that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury as a result of the accident.

The plaintiff then filed a motion for a new trial, alleging that one of the jurors had a strained relationship with the plaintiff's fiance, who was also a witness, potentially affecting the juror's impartiality. The judge denied the motion, ruling that the juror had disclosed knowledge of the witness during voir dire and the plaintiff's counsel had not pursued further details about their relationship. The defendant had previously filed an offer of judgment in the amount of $3,501.