Georgia Jury Awards $22,000 in Rear-End Collision

On August 30, 2016, a 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S, owned by Carey Hilliards Drive In Restaurant Inc. and valued at nearly $200,000, was rear-ended by defendant Ann H. Searcy's vehicle. The plaintiff's vehicle, operated by an employee, had been stopped at a traffic light when the defendant collided with it from behind. The defendant was cited for following too closely, a violation of Georgia traffic law, and later pleaded guilty to the charge.

Carey Hilliards Drive In Restaurant Inc. filed a complaint on December 13, 2016, alleging the defendant's negligence and negligence per se caused a diminution in the Porsche's value by approximately $50,000. The plaintiff sought this amount, alongside attorney's fees and litigation costs. The defendant denied the allegations, asserting defenses that included a failure to state a claim and a lack of standing by the plaintiff.

The case proceeded to a jury trial, concluding on September 19, 2018. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $22,000 in general damages. This award represented less than half of the $50,000 claimed for the vehicle's diminished value.