Edwardsville, Ill. (December 3, 2025) - Madison County Partners Adam S. Johnson and Nicholas Martin recently secured a defense verdict in a wrongful death case following a jury trial in Madison County, Illinois. The matter arose from a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident and was filed by the decedent's father.
At trial, the decedent's father presented evidence through the responding police officer and coroner regarding the facts of the accident. The plaintiff alleged the defendant was negligent and failed to keep a proper lookout at the time of the accident. The plaintiff argued the defendant was driving too fast for the foggy conditions on the morning of the accident and took his eyes off the road, which in turn caused him to fail to see the decedent before the impact. In addition, the plaintiff testified as to his own grief and loss of consortium he suffered as a result of his son's death.
The defense presented physical evidence, numerous fact witnesses, and the testimony of multiple experts, including an accident reconstructionist and toxicologist. The defense proved that the decedent's blood alcohol level exceeded four times the legal limit at the time of the accident, which the defense claimed constituted contributory negligence. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Martin called multiple fact witnesses, including the decedent's mother and a co-worker, to further establish the decedent's intoxication. The defense also presented the expert testimony of an Illinois State Police accident reconstructionist and other physical evidence and photographs proving that the defendant would not have been able to see the decedent prior to the accident. During closing argument, the defense argued the accident was a tragedy, but it was caused solely by the negligence of the decedent.
After less than an hour of deliberation, the jury returned a defense verdict.