Jury Awards $54,008.89 for Vehicle Damage Negligence

On March 12, 2018, the plaintiff, an owner of various companies, provided his 2011 Lamborghini LP 610 Performante Spyder to his employee, the defendant, for personal use. The defendant, who was also the plaintiff's half-brother, accessed the vehicle through a contract with an exotic car club. Later that day, the defendant returned the Lamborghini with damage to its rear and right front wheel. The car club subsequently assigned its claims against the defendant to the plaintiff.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendant, alleging negligence in the vehicle's operation, breach of bailment, and breach of a written contract. During the two-day trial, the defendant admitted that his initial account of being rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver was false. He testified that he accidentally "curbed" the wheel while exiting a parking lot and that his girlfriend rear-ended him as they returned the car. He denied speeding or reckless driving, despite a previous statement acknowledging he had been speeding. The plaintiff testified that the defendant promised to pay for the damage but failed to do so. The defense did not strongly dispute liability but contended that the defendant was truthful and only responsible for the wheel damage, estimated at $125.

The plaintiff sought damages for repair costs totaling $30,626.39, including storage and towing. Additionally, the plaintiff claimed $17,308.33 for loss of use due to lost monthly payments from the car club, approximately $15,000 for diminution in market value, and $14,282.50 for attorney fees through trial.

After two hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant liable on all three causes of action: negligence, breach of bailment, and breach of contract. The jury awarded the plaintiff $54,008.89. Post-trial discussions with jurors indicated they reduced the awards for storage and loss of use to one month.