School bus backs into student: Negligent backing of bus: Foot injuries: Verdict

Law Reporter, Jun 2000

Moore v. Seminole County Sch. Bd., Fla., Seminole County Cir. Ct., No. 98-1665-CA-11-B, Feb. 22, 2000.

Peters, 14, got off her school bus and was walking along a road when the bus backed into her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her left foot under the right rear tire. Peters suffered a laceration, damage to the tendons in her foot, and significant scarring. Her medical expenses were about $16,100.

Peters's mother, individually and on her behalf, sued the school board, alleging the bus driver was negligent in backing up the bus. Plaintiffs claimed the bus could not be backed up safely because of blind spots and the driver had violated defendant's own written procedures by doing so.

The jury awarded Peters $250,000. Her mother was awarded about $16,100 for past medical expenses. Plaintiffs' experts were Robert T. Hoover II, podiatry,

Altamonte Springs, Fla.; and John F. Schaeffer, orthopedics, Sanford, Fla.

Plaintiffs' Counsel

*Phares M. Heindl, Altamonte Springs, Fla.