Philadelphia, PA – A Philadelphia jury has awarded $26.2 million to a man injured in a truck crash, with $25 million of that amount being punitive damages. This significant verdict comes just weeks after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to establish a fixed rule limiting the ratio of punitive and compensatory damages. The plaintiff’s lawyers at Morgan & Morgan declined a settlement offer of $1.46 million from the defendants.
The case involved Patrick Clemmons, who claimed that he suffered neck and back injuries, as well as a concussion, when his semi-truck was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer driven by Randy Lehr, an employee of Ecore International Inc. Clemmons alleged that Lehr had acted recklessly by exceeding the regulated hours of driving and speeding, violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
In response to the plaintiff’s complaint, Lehr and Ecore argued that the allegations did not prove reckless behavior or warrant punitive damages. However, the jury ultimately ruled in favor of Clemmons, awarding him $300,000 for economic damages, $200,000 for noneconomic damages, and $700,000 for loss of consortium. The majority of the punitive damages were assigned to Ecore, with Lehr being responsible for $2,500 of the punitive damages.
Clancy Boylan and Hannah Molitoris, the attorneys representing Clemmons, stated that the crash had caused debilitating injuries to their client due to the defendant’s failure to follow safety precautions. They emphasized the significance of the jury’s decision in granting Clemmons the ability to move forward with his life in dignity and security.
The trial, which lasted approximately two weeks, saw the jury deliberating for two days. However, neither Molitoris nor Boylan were available for further comment. Andrew Connolly, representing Lehr and Ecore during the trial, declined to provide a statement.
In conclusion, a Philadelphia jury has awarded $26.2 million, including $25 million in punitive damages, to a man injured in a truck crash. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant’s reckless behavior led to the crash and subsequent debilitating injuries. This verdict serves as a significant outcome in the pursuit of justice for the plaintiff and highlights the importance of proper safety precautions in preventing such accidents.