Jacksonville, Florida — A civil jury awarded $10.3 million in compensatory damages Wednesday to the parents of a 21-year-old woman who died in a head-on collision earlier this year. The proceedings followed the fatal crash involving Ramon Cerda, who had been drinking before the incident.
The jury granted $5 million each to Monique and John Behr for the loss of their daughter Nell Behr, who was killed in January 2023. Cerda has admitted fault in the incident and pled guilty to DUI manslaughter, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence. Though the bar where Cerda drank, Whiskey Jax, was initially implicated in the lawsuit, it was not included as a defendant during the trial.
The two-day proceeding this week specifically focused on determining damages for the Behr family. During closing arguments, attorney Aaron Davis highlighted the emotional toll of the loss, presenting testimony from family and friends that illustrated the profound impact on Nell’s parents. They had intended to relocate from Chicago to Jacksonville to be closer to her.
“The pain doesn’t lessen over time,” Davis remarked, advocating for potential damages ranging from $30 million to $60 million. “It’s a bond that never goes away.”
In contrast, defense attorney Daniel Shapiro acknowledged the tragedy but suggested that the Behrs are making strides in coping with their grief, proposing a damages figure around $2.35 million. He emphasized that while losing a child is an unimaginable event, the parents are managing to move forward.
Separately, punitive proceedings in the case are set to commence next week. The public will have access to those hearings, offering further insights into the legal ramifications of the incident.
This jury’s decision underscores the significant emotional and financial repercussions of tragic events resulting from impaired driving, a persistent issue in communities nationwide.
This article was automatically written by OpenAI. The people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate, and any article can be requested to be removed, retracted, or corrected by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.