Rowan & Wood Successfully Defend Insured In Stipulated Liability Case

Matt Rowan (Partner-Tyler, TX) and Morgan Wood (Of Counsel-Tyler, TX) defended the insured (a farm truck driver) in a stipulated liability case involving a motor vehicle accident where the driver impacted the plaintiff's vehicle while delivering a load of stone to a local distributor in inclement weather. The plaintiff claimed a traumatic brain injury and significant damages from the accident and alleged gross negligence. The plaintiff was demanding $7.3 million in damages. The defense disputed the amount of damages as the evidence did not show such an extent of damage to the plaintiff, and disputed gross negligence. After a four-day trial in Denton County, Texas, wherein the plaintiff only sought non-economic damages (physical pain, mental anguish and physical impairment) in the amount of $7.3 million, the jury returned a verdict awarding only $44,500 in damages to the plaintiff (which was even less than the defense asked for in their closing argument) and denying gross negligence in full. This was a big win for the insured.