Opinion ID: 1874552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The first suit

Text: ¶ 3. On May 12, 1999, Robin Medlin was driving north on I-55 near Crystal Springs when her car was sandwiched between a tractor lawn mower and an eighteen-wheeler tractor-trailer rig. On July 28, 1999, Medlin filed suit against the driver of the eighteen-wheeler, Michael Walls, and his employer, D & M Trucking, and against the driver of the mower, Adrian Gonzales, and his employer, Clancy's Lawn Care and Landscaping, Inc. In her complaint, Medlin alleged that the negligence of the two individual defendants was the proximate cause of the accident. The complaint further alleged: All of the injuries, past, present and future pain and suffering, disabilities, expenses and other losses and damages, including lost wages and loss of wage earning capacity, were directly and proximately caused by the aforementioned actions of the Defendant, Gonzales.... By reason of and as a direct and approximate (sic) result of the actions of the Defendant, Walls, the Plaintiff Medlin... sustained multiple injuries including bruises, contusions and abrasions over her body; broken bones and other internal injuries; and trauma resulting in her being rendered unconscious. All of these injuries resulted in excruciating physical and mental pain and anguish, physical and mental stress and discomfort. The plaintiff's injuries as described are permanent in nature and caused her to incur substantial expenses for doctor's bills, hospital bills, medical treatment and other necessary medical expenses, and she will continue to incur such expenses and costs in the future. All of the injuries, past, present and future pain and suffering, disabilities, expenses and other losses and damages, including lost wages and loss of wage earning capacity, were directly and proximately caused by the aforementioned actions of the Defendant Walls.... ¶ 4. On August 6, 1999, after her release from the hospital, Medlin learned that her right thumb had been fractured in the accident. On November 11, 1999, she learned that she had suffered a fractured vertebrae. ¶ 5. On August 29, 2001, just prior to the beginning of trial, Medlin settled with Gonzales and Clancy's Lawn Care for $300,000. She proceeded to trial against Walls and D & M Trucking which resulted in the following special jury verdict: 1. What is the total amount of damages incurred by the plaintiff, Robin Medlin, as a result of the accident in question? $300,000.00. 2. Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the defendants, Michael Walls and D & M Trucking Company, were guilty of any negligence which was a proximate contributing cause of the plaintiff's damages? yes X no ¶ 6. The jury was not asked to, nor did they, attribute fault to any other party. There was no assertion that Medlin's damages were caused by the actions or inactions of the treating physicians or hospital. Punitive damages were not considered by the jury. ¶ 7. Thus, on August 29, 2001, a jury determined that the total amount of damages suffered by Medlin as a result of the accident was $300,000.00. There is no dispute that Medlin received that full amount from Gonzales and Clancy's Lawn Care in settlement of Medlin's claim against them for damages sustained in the accident. We must now travel back two years prior to the trial, to the day of the accident.