Ore City Jury Awards $101.3 Million in Rear-End Truck Collision

In Ore City, Texas, a vehicle collision occurred on September 15, 2013, when a tractor-trailer struck the rear of a pickup truck driven by the plaintiff, a crane operator. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained back and neck injuries from the incident. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against the tractor-trailer's driver and the driver's employer, alleging negligence and gross negligence in the vehicle's operation. The plaintiff further claimed the employer was vicariously liable for the driver's actions and negligent in its hiring and training practices.

The plaintiff asserted the driver was operating under the influence of marijuana and methamphetamine, citing positive drug test results presented as evidence. Evidence also indicated the employer's hiring policies may have been violated due to the driver's prior traffic violations, and the driver acknowledged not completing all required training. Additionally, the driver was on probation with the company due to previous accidents at the time of the collision. The plaintiff sought damages for past and future medical bills, lost earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and punitive damages, claiming long-term disability following disc replacement surgery and persistent pain.

The defense countered that in-cab video showed no distracted behavior by the driver. The defense disputed that the driver was under the influence of drugs, with the driver testifying to minimal drug use unrelated to work, and noted prior negative drug tests during employment. The defense also argued that the driver received extensive training and that prior traffic violations did not fall within the company's specific 36-month exclusion period for hiring. Furthermore, the defense contended that the collision was minor and could not have caused the claimed injuries, pointing to the plaintiff's statement to police at the scene that he was not hurt.

After hearing the arguments and evidence, a jury found the defendants negligent and grossly negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiff a total of $101,361,337.09. This included $26,311,337.09 in actual damages, for which the employer was held entirely liable and the driver was held 30 percent liable. Punitive damages totaled $75,050,000, with $75,000,000 assessed against the employer and $50,000 against the driver.