Patrick Strubel and Karmen Gaines secured a unanimous defense verdict for a construction company in a wrongful death case that was tried in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama.
The lawsuit arose out of an off-road motor vehicle accident that resulted in the unfortunate death of a 16-year-old. The estate claimed the construction company negligently graded a transmission substation pad and failed to adequately manage soil erosion. In closing arguments, the estate’s attorney asked the jury to return a verdict in excess of $3 million. The Watkins & Eager team presented testimony that the transmission pad was appropriately graded, soil erosion was properly managed, and the work performed by their client was not the cause of the accident. The 12-member jury agreed and returned a unanimous defense verdict in less than an hour.