ATLANTA, Ga. — After two decades of prolonged legal battles, Ed Heller’s quest for justice in the death of his wife, who tragically died in a taxicab accident in 2003, continues. Patricia Heller’s untimely death occurred shortly after she departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on a rainy day, setting the stage for a complex legal saga that questions the accountability of a driver, a defunct taxicab company, and a city inspector.
Patricia Heller, on a business trip, left the airport in a taxi that later crashed into a line of trees along Interstate 85, the slick roads contributing to the tragic accident. This incident left Ed Heller a widower, mourning the loss of his wife alongside their two children. The driver, Abdallah Adem, admitted guilt for vehicular homicide, acknowledging the taxi’s tires were dangerously worn.
The Heller family brought a lawsuit against not only Adem but also the taxi company and a city inspector who had approved the vehicle’s safety the day before the crash. James Potts, representing the Heller family, expressed profound disappointment over the circumstances leading to Patricia’s death, underscoring that such an event was entirely preventable.
The legal proceedings reached a critical juncture on March 4, when a Fulton County jury delivered a mixed verdict. They found the taxi company, which ceased operations long ago, culpable for Patricia Heller’s death but absolved both the driver and the city inspector of any liability. Potts voiced shock at the jury’s decision not to hold the driver and inspector accountable, especially considering the driver’s prior admission of guilt.
Following the verdict, Potts probed some jurors for insight into their decision-making process. Astonishingly, one juror, Scott Kelley, revealed his own influence in the outcome, asserting, “I stopped that,” when referencing liability not being assigned to the driver or inspector.
Court records later unearthed discrepancies in Kelley’s background. Although he presented himself as a corporate attorney during jury selection, records from the Supreme Court of Illinois showed Kelley was suspended from practicing law in 2008 for misconduct, including financial discrepancies with a client. Kelley has not held a legal license in any state since.
This revelation prompted the Heller family to file for an appeal in June, arguing that Kelley misrepresented his qualifications, constituting juror misconduct. Consequently, in a significant twist, a Fulton County State Court judge ordered a new trial, citing the original verdict was “contrary to the weight of the evidence.” However, the order did not specifically address the allegations of juror misconduct.
While the verdict to hold the taxicab company liable remained intact, awarding the Heller family $25 million in damages, the judge’s order allows for a retrial against the driver and city inspector. Despite the significant financial compensation, Ed Heller stated the trial transcends monetary concerns. “I just feel that I don’t want to let the behavior that I’ve watched over these years get away with it,” he remarked from his home in a San Francisco suburb.
Another trial date has yet to be scheduled. Meanwhile, Kelley has declined multiple requests for an interview.
This case adds to a growing trend highlighted by the National Center for State Courts, which noted an increase in juror misconduct claims from nearly 50 in 2000 to about 250 two decades later. Such incidents can have broad ramifications, influencing outcomes in both civil and criminal courts across the nation.