Jason Friedman and Earleen Cote obtained a complete defense verdict in a high-exposure personal injury case arising from a severe motor vehicle accident that occurred in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida. The jury found no wrongdoing on the part of the client, assigning 80% responsibility to the other driver and 20% responsibility to the plaintiff for failing to wear her seat belt.

The case centered on claims brought by a then-28-year-old plaintiff who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The plaintiff was ejected from the vehicle and alleged injuries to her neck, back, extremities, facial fractures, and a significant traumatic brain injury. The trial lasted nearly five full days and included testimony from five different physicians addressing the multiple injuries claimed by the plaintiff.

Earleen’s cross-examination of the plaintiff lasted several hours and ultimately established that the majority of the plaintiff’s injuries pre-existed the accident. It also demonstrated that the plaintiff could not recall how the accident occurred and could not explain why the client was allegedly at fault. The defense moved for a directed verdict at the close of the plaintiff’s case. Although the motion was denied, the court acknowledged that “it was a very close call.”

Ultimately, the jury did not agree that it was close and, after a relatively brief deliberation, returned a complete defense verdict in favor of the client. The verdict against the co-defendant exceeded $1,000,000. This result was especially impactful given that a close friend of the client passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.