July 23, 2009 – A $6.9 million settlement was reached today between a major semi truck company and two individuals moments before a jury was about to deliver its verdict after a four day trial in Madison, Wisconsin. A family was torn apart by tragedy when a semi truck drove over a stopped car killing two of its occupants, a fifty-two-year-old woman and her four-year-old granddaughter. The third person in the car, a fifty-eight-year-old man, survived the crash with a fractured leg and post-traumatic stress disorder.
While the trucking company admitted fault before trial it argued the damages should be valued at $2.1 million. During the four day jury trial the trucking company's offer went up incrementally until the case finally settled for $6.9 million just before the jury was about to return what jurors interviewed after the settlement said would have been a $6.5 million dollar verdict.
David E. Rapoport lead trial attorney for this semi truck crash lawsuit remarked, "the value of the wrongful death cases was held down by low non-economic damages caps under the law, which many of the jurors said were too low and should be changed. However, the law did not limit what could be awarded for the surviving man's post-traumatic stress disorder, and while it was a struggle we are pleased in the end with the record setting amount paid to him and hope the Wisconsin legislature will consider eliminating or raising the damages caps in light of the jury's low opinion of the law on that question."
Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. is a personal injury law firm based in Chicago, Illinois. The personal injury attorneys at Rapoport Law Offices have achieved multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for individuals with lawsuits arising from medical malpractice, product liability, semi truck and motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries and construction accidents in Illinois and Wisconsin. Rapoport Law Offices' premier aviation negligence lawyers represent victims of commercial and general aviation disasters nationwide.
If you feel you may be in need of legal services, personally email an attorney from Rapoport Law Offices for a free case evaluation or telephone our Chicago office toll free at 877-216-4213.
Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. is a personal injury law firm based in Chicago, Illinois. The personal injury attorneys at Rapoport Law Offices have achieved multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for individuals with lawsuits arising from medical malpractice, product liability, semi truck and motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries and construction accidents in Illinois and Wisconsin. Rapoport Law Offices' premier aviation negligence lawyers represent victims of commercial and general aviation disasters nationwide.
If you feel you may be in need of legal services, personally email an attorney from Rapoport Law Offices for a free case evaluation or telephone our Chicago office toll free at 877-216-4213.
