Tractor-trailer collison: Failure to heed stop sign, yield: Incomplete paralysis: Verdict

Law Reporter, Aug 1999

Caudle v. Union Pac. R.R., Ill., Cook County Cir. Court, No. 96 L 11832, Dec. 18,1998.

Caudle, 68, was a passenger in a car that collided with a tractor-trailer at an intersection. He suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in incomplete paralysis of his arms and legs. His medical expenses totaled about $254,800. Caudle was retired at the time of the accident.

He sued the driver, alleging failure to ( 1 ) heed a stop sign, (2) yield the right-of-way, (3) sound the car horn, (4) keep a proper lookout, (5) exercise due care while driving, and (6) drive at a reasonable speed. Suit also alleged that the driver's employer-the truck's owner-was liable for the driver's negligence.

The jury awarded about $10.43 million, paid by the employer's insurers.

Plaintiff's experts included Gary Yarkony, rehabilitation, Chicago, Ill., and Walter Johnson, economics, Rolla, Mo.

Defendants' experts were Marca Sipski, rehabilitation, West Orange, N.J., and Stephen Renas, economics, Englewood, Ohio.

Plaintiff's Counsel:

*Larry R Rogers Sr., Chicago, Ill.

*Larry R Rogers Jr., Chicago, Ill.

[Documents in this case are available through the Court Documents section in the back section of this issue, courtesy of Messrs. Rogers.]