Georgia Jury Awards $30,104.50 in Motor Vehicle Accident

A plaintiff filed a lawsuit in Georgia seeking damages following a motor vehicle accident, claiming under uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The defendant, whose defense was handled by an insurer, denied being an uninsured or underinsured motorist as defined by Georgia law. The defense also argued that the plaintiff failed to comply with insurance policy requirements and raised procedural issues, including failure to state a claim and insufficient service of process.

The insurer initially filed an answer and cross-claim but later withdrew it, electing to defend the action in the defendant's name as permitted by Georgia law. Following a trial, a jury rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiff on April 17, 2017. A judgment for general damages of $30,104.50 was entered against the defendant on April 27, 2017. The plaintiff subsequently filed a motion requesting the judgment be marked "Satisfied" in court records, indicating full payment had been received.