KINGSTON, N.Y. — A jury in Ulster County has awarded a former Orange County resident $31 million in damages for injuries sustained in a vehicular accident, marking a record verdict for such cases in the county’s history. The decision was announced following a two-week trial presided over by Supreme Court Judge Richard Mott.
Kelly Burley, now 41 and residing in Oregon, was involved in a rear-end collision on June 11, 2019, while traveling east on the Mid-Hudson Bridge. A truck operated by an employee of Arnoff Moving & Storage collided with her vehicle. At the time, Burley was on her way to visit a friend in Dutchess County. The truck, a 2016 International, was leased from Ryder Truck Rental, which was not deemed responsible in the incident.
Andrew Finkelstein, Burley’s attorney, detailed the crash circumstances, noting it occurred during rush hour, leading to a traffic jam on the bridge. When traffic halted, Burley stopped her vehicle, only to be struck by the Arnoff truck, which was driven by a young employee accompanied by his cousin. The collision initiated a chain reaction involving a Nissan and a Chevrolet, though no injuries were reported from the occupants of these vehicles.
The driver of the Arnoff truck, Robert Wayne Spadaccini, was 21 years old at the time and was ticketed for following too closely. Finkelstein stated that Arnoff Moving & Storage accepted responsibility for the crash, acknowledging the liability of an employer for actions of its employees during their employment.
Initially, Burley seemed to have escaped the incident without severe injuries, managing to walk away from the crash scene. However, she later developed cauda equina syndrome, a serious condition resulting from nerve root compressions at the lower end of the spinal cord. This condition can lead to severe pain, weakness, and incontinence, and requires immediate surgical intervention to avoid permanent damage, as per medical sources. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, Burley was left permanently disabled and wheelchair-bound.
At the trial, evidence presented by Finkelstein linked the crash to Burley’s subsequent health complications, countering initial claims that her disability was unrelated to the incident. The jury was persuaded that Arnoff’s negligence led to Burley’s injuries, resulting in the multi-million dollar judgment.
Despite the substantial award, two-thirds of which will revert to Burley and the remainder to Finkelstein & Partners, Finkelstein remarked that Burley would willingly forgo the compensation to reclaim her health, emphasizing the gravity of her loss over any financial gain.
Burley, now dependent on a wheelchair and residing with her parents, faces ongoing challenges. The legal acknowledgment and compensation, while providing some measure of relief, underscore the lasting impact of the accident on her life.
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