Jeff and Steve Win UM Verdict

On September 12, 2014, after a week-long trial including six hours of jury deliberation, Jeff Humphries and Steve O’Hara won a federal court jury verdict in a lawsuit for underinsured motorist coverage benefits. The plaintiff was a 55-year-old retired firefighter who still worked as a volunteer firefighter. He was rear-ended while responding to a call, was transported by rescue to the emergency department, and had two months of follow-up treatment before his attorney referred him to orthopedic surgeons. He underwent two surgeries — a two-level neck fusion and a shoulder arthroscopy for a torn rotator cuff. Our defense theory of the case was that he had pre-existing conditions temporarily aggravated by the low-speed impact. His attorney asked the jury to award almost $2 million. We suggested just under $15,000 for past economic losses. The jury awarded $57,560 for past economic losses, nothing for future economic losses, and found that the plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury.