Clifford Law Offices and the Law Offices of Robert Montgomery obtained a $5 million verdict late Friday on behalf of a LaGrange Park, Illinois college student who was severely injured when a semi-truck and trailer struck her on I-65.
Bradley M. Cosgrove of Clifford Law Offices in Chicago and Robert A. Montgomery of the Law Offices of Robert Montgomery with offices in Lake County, Indiana, obtained the $5M verdict before Judge Bruce Parent following a week-long jury trial in Lake Superior Court in Gary, Indiana. Kristen Koeller of Malman Law in Chicago assisted Chicago car accident attorneys Cosgrove and Montgomery at trial. Judgment was entered on the verdict today, Aug. 1, 2016.
The two-man-four-woman jury deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes before reaching its $5 million verdict on behalf of Kathleen E. Lucas, 20, of Willow Springs, Illinois, who on Jan 11, 2011, suffered severe injuries when a semi-trailer truck on I-65 was unable to stop in snowy weather after the Lucas vehicle spun out and blocked the truck’s lane of traffic. The jury also apportioned 50 percent of fault to Lucas.
The truck was owned and operated by Marten Transport, Ltd. of Mondovi, Wisconsin. The lawsuit alleged that the truck driver, Caroline Hurt, failed to keep a proper lookout on the icy and snowy road, was driving too fast for conditions, failed to timely brake and failed to take evasive action to avoid the collision. As a result, Lucas suffered a broken pelvis, lacerated bladder, three broken ribs and traumatic brain injury.
“Kathleen is a very determined individual and after rehabilitation was able to complete college and obtained her master’s degree in jurisprudence and is currently working as a paralegal, but the pain and compromised physical condition will remain with this young woman forever,” Cosgrove said following the verdict.
“We are happy that the jury was able to understand that semi-tractor trailer drivers have an obligation to reduce their speed in icy and snowy conditions,” Montgomery added.
The case involved no offer from the defendants.
For further information, please contact Clifford Law Offices’ Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell).