Drunk driver pays $750,000, Lauer v. Brown

Pennsylvania Law Weekly

Comments:

Plaintiff was injured on March 18, 1995, when defendant, who later pled guilty to driving while intoxicated, crossed the center line and struck the vehicle in which plaintiff was a passenger

Defendant, who conceded liability and had liability coverage totaling 500,000, offered $230,000 to settle the case.

Following four days of testimony, the jury returned a verdict of $750,000 in favor of the plaintiff.

A motion to mold the verdict by adding delay damages of approximately a $46,000 has been filed with the court.

Plaintiff, who made a demand for policy limits and thereafter sent a bad faith letter, intends to pursue a bad faith claim against Nationwide, defendant’s automobile insurer.

COURT C.P. Clarion County
CASE NUMBER No. 334 of 105.
JURY VERDICT $750,000
JUDGE Charles Alexander
INJURIES Fractures of the sinus, sacrum (nondisplaced), bilateral hips (nondisplaced), left distal tibia/fibula, right ankle and talus
ATTORNEY(S) Neil R. Rosen and Jean Manifesto Pittsburgh.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY(S) James Arner, Clarion
PLAINTIFF EXPERT(S): Barry Reimer, M.D. (orthopedics) Margaret Reidy, M.D. (Rehabilitation medicine), Stephen Kaltman, M.D. (ora( maxillofacial surgeon) and Jay Jarye (employment specialist).
DEFENSE EXPERT(S): None