News & Events

Thomas McCausland, a partner, and Britanee Prince, an associate, in the Hollywood office, successfully obtained a complete defense verdict following a nearly two-week jury trial in St. Lucie County. The case involved a high-speed, rear-end collision on Interstate 95 involving a tractor-trailer.

The Plaintiff claimed injuries to his lumbar spine resulting from the impact. The defense denied liability in its entirety and argued that Plaintiff was the sole cause of the motor vehicle accident because his car was stopped in the right-hand lane of the interstate in the middle of the night with no lights on, making it extremely difficult for the insured driver to see Plaintiff’s car prior to the impact. 

This incident occurred post-tort reform. The defense made arguments to the Court regarding Florida Statute § 768.0427 and the medical bills that Plaintiff should be limited to presenting to the jury based on the new statute. The Court agreed with the defense’s position that Plaintiff had the burden to present evidence of medical bills following in line with the statute. 

Plaintiff asked for almost $1.7 million in closing. The jury was out for 45 minutes before returning a complete defense verdict.