A Loudoun County jury awarded $4.4 million to the plaintiff in Garner v. Rice Tire, et al., following a multi-day trial on damages stemming from a serious commercial vehicle collision. Attorneys Chidi James, Robert Stoney, Matthew Tsun, and M. Barkley Horn of Blankingship & Keith represented the plaintiff in the case, which was tried before Judge Douglas L. Fleming in the Loudoun County Circuit Court (Case No. CL22000623-00).
The plaintiff sustained life-altering injuries, including a fractured femur, fractured ankle, fractured tibial plateau, fractured vertebrae, multiple rib fractures, and a ruptured diaphragm, after a dump truck hauling a trailer loaded with construction equipment lost control and entered Route 7, colliding with the plaintiff’s vehicle.
The crash investigation revealed that the trailer’s brakes were out of alignment and lacked critical safety features. Notably, the trailer had passed inspection by a defendant inspection company just months prior, despite these deficiencies. Four weeks before trial, all defendants conceded liability, and the case proceeded to a jury trial solely on the issue of damages.
During trial, the plaintiff’s legal team presented expert testimony from a polytrauma specialist and introduced a $1.2 million life care plan to address ongoing and future medical needs. While the defense argued that the plaintiff had completed treatment years earlier and required no further care, the jury returned a verdict of $4.4 million after deliberating for just over two hours.
“This case was about accountability and ensuring our client received justice for injuries that changed the course of his life,” said Chidi James, lead counsel for the plaintiff. “We’re grateful the jury saw the full scope of what she endured, and what lies ahead, and responded with a verdict that reflects the seriousness of the harm done.”
The verdict includes $295,617 in special damages for past medical treatment.