Fulton County Jury Awards $110,000 in Trucking Negligence

On June 7, 2013, a collision occurred in Fulton County, Georgia, when a freightliner allegedly driven by the defendant driver improperly changed lanes and struck the plaintiff's eastbound vehicle. The plaintiff alleged suffering severe and permanent injuries as a result. The plaintiff subsequently accused the defendant driver and the defendant trucking company, which owned the freightliner, of vehicular negligence, claiming the driver was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the incident.

On April 17, 2015, the plaintiff filed a complaint in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia, seeking various damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. The trucking company's insurer removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on May 20, 2015. Later, on August 4, 2015, the parties stipulated to drop claims for negligent hiring/training, supervision, entrustment, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. The plaintiff's uninsured motorist carrier was also dismissed from the case without prejudice.

A jury trial commenced on March 28, 2016. On March 29, 2016, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $110,000. The award included $53,920.46 for past medical expenses and $56,079.54 for past, present, and future pain and suffering. The court entered judgment consistent with the jury's findings on the same day.