The Eleventh Circuit has ruled, amidst a whirlwind of argument and counterargument, sustaining a $3.6 million judgment against the titan trucking company, Werner Enterprises Inc., concerning a grievous accident instigated by one of its drivers. Even with the evidence resembling a stormy sea of contradiction, the jury’s compass pointed firmly towards the company’s liability for the wreckage.
Werner Enterprises $3.6M Verdict : The Heart of the Collision
Date To Remember: September 20, 2019. Lexie Handley’s vehicle met a tragic fate when it crashed into a colossal tractor-trailer steered by Werner’s employee, Joseph Krisak. The aftermath? Handley grappling with severe injuries.
Werner Enterprises $3.6M Verdict : What Did the Jury Say?
In a courtroom echoing with anticipation, the jury stood united, decreeing damages worth $6 million. The scales tilted with Werner bearing 60% of the blame, leading to a heavy financial blow of $3.6 million. Werner, though, fired back with a motion for a fresh trial or a mistrial. Their argument? A flawed verdict form that erroneously listed ACE American Insurance Co.—a party long ousted from the scene—as a defendant.
Conflicting Evidence: Where the Plot Thickens
The fog of the courtroom thickened with Handley confessing to a hazy recollection of the fateful event. Yet, like a beacon, testimony from a vigilant witness recounted Krisak’s erratic driving, painting him as a driver wandering lost. The police report further added fuel to the fire, highlighting the truck’s position in the left lane—Handley’s point of impact.
