Trenton, MI (PRWEB) October 27, 2014
Downriver (Trenton) personal injury attorney Allen J. Counard http://www.counardlaw.com obtained a jury verdict in excess of $500,000.00 ($609,000.00) on Friday, September 12, 2014 when a Wayne County Jury found in favor of his client, Elizabeth O’Neil (Wayne County Circuit Court Case #12-016380-NF). The litigation ensued after a driver of an SUV struck pedestrian Ms. O’Neil in a Meijer parking lot, resulting in multiple injuries, including a broken nose, a fractured jaw and a mild closed head injury. The highest pre-trial offer was $75,000.00.
After deliberating just under four (4) hours, Court documents reflect that the jury of eight men and women unanimously found in Ms. O’Neil’s favor. Mr. Counard stated that jury trials obtaining justice for all, not just the “big money,” i.e., insurance companies and large corporations, is a right for all of us. Counard further stated that the United States Constitution names only one of our rights three (3) times, and that is the right to a jury trial. The Michigan Constitution guarantees all of us this right to a jury trial, rich and poor.
The Court records for this case reflect that the extent of Plaintiff’s injuries and the negligence of the Defendant driver were hotly contested by the defendant and her carrier, Farmers Insurance Company. The defendant and her attorney alleged that Plaintiff’s injuries were minimal and did not meet the statutory threshold to obtain non-economic damages in Michigan. The Jury found the Defendant driver negligent after Mr. Counard successfully demonstrated that the Defendant driver failed to use due care and caution when traveling through the parking lot and that Ms. O’Neil’s injuries from this SUV vs. pedestrian collision resulted in a serious impairment of an important body function.
“I think the jury saw through defendant’s theory and correctly awarded an appropriate verdict to Ms. O’Neil,” said Allen Counard. He further stated that he was pleased to see that the Constitutional right to a jury trial was, and still is, available to folks like Plaintiff Elizabeth O’Neil. “As difficult as it is for insured people to collect on a claim under the current system, there is still hope that in some cases the ordinary folks such as Elizabeth O’Neil can still get justice,” said Counard.
The Law Office of Allen J. Counard, P.C., represents auto accident and personal injury victims (including medical malpractice/negligence and wrongful death cases) throughout the State of Michigan. In addition to injury cases, the Law Firm handles police brutality cases and insurance claims involving property damage to your home and business. To find out more about Allen J. Counard, P.C. visit their website at http://www.counardlaw.com or call 734-692-0033.
