Written by our personal injury lawyers in Charlottesville
Case Description:
Gas Station Manager suffers traumatic brain injury
Court/Date:
Prince William County Circuit Court, Manassas, Virginia, 2000
Facts:
Francis Hajek is one of our personal injury lawyers in Charlottesville. He represented Donald French, a gas station manager, who was injured in Gainesville, Virginia. Mr. French was sitting in his office when a Norfolk Southern train derailed and smashed into his office building. He suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and a mild traumatic brain injury. Although his broken bones healed, Mr. French’s brain injury left him permanently damaged in terms of his memory and ability to function on a daily basis. At trial, the railroad admitted liability for the derailment but tried to convince the jury that Mr. French’s brain injury was not severe. The railroad employed a private investigator to conduct surveillance. Francis Hajek questioned the investigator at trial and proved that the railroad had not presented portions of the surveillance video showing that Mr. French was having problems.
Trial:
The best evidence of Mr. French’s mild traumatic brain injury was the array of witnesses that Francis Hajek called to testify about Mr. French’s problems. These fact witnesses, former coworkers and friends, were able to talk about how Mr. French’s personality changed and the extent of his memory loss. Their trial testimony was a key factor in this record verdict of over $60 million.
Verdict/Settlement:
The jury awarded damages of over $46 million with interest. The interest amounted to over $14 million for a total verdict over $60 million. The case later settled for a confidential amount.
Contact the experienced injury lawyers at the law firm of Wilson & Hajek.
Personal injury lawyers in Charlottesville serving Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Albemarle County, and all of central Virginia.
