Prominent Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases

Electrical Utilities

  • Van Clayton v. Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association , Cause No. CV-93-51-B(P1), Circuit Court, Panola County [Suit for personal injuries including severe burns suffered by employee of farm equipment company when vehicle he was transporting came into contact with low-hanging electrical wires over public roadway.]

Highway Design Liability

  • Rachel McBride, Heir and Administratrix of the Estate of Larry McBride, Deceased vs. Mississippi Department of Transportation, Classic Coach, Inc., et al , No. 94-0217, Circuit Court of Tunica County, Mississippi. [ $2.3 Million judgment in favor of widow and child of 21 year old man killed in collision with casino shuttle bus at unmarked intersection.For a copy of Opinion, click here . ]
  • Ooujjetti Vance vs. Jeffrey D. Downing, an Individual Adult Resident and Citizen of the State of Missouri, Chancellor & Sons, Inc., a Tennessee Corporation, Desoto County, Mississippi, the State Highway Commission for the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the State of Mississippi , Cause No. CV94-296-CD, Circuit Court, Desoto County 1. [$4.9 million dollar recovery for college student rendered quadriplegic in collision at intersection under construction where stop sign improperly maintained by construction company.]
  • Barba Boyd and John Boyd vs. Sheraton Tunica Corporation d/b/a Sheraton Casino, Circus Mississippi, Inc. d/b/a Circus Circus Casino, Robinson Property Group, L.P. d/b/a Horseshoe Casino, Reaves, Sweeney & Marcom, Inc. and Koffi Biam , Cause No. CV97-59-B(P), Circuit Court, Panola County [Pending suit for personal injuries suffered by motorists injured in collision with vehicle leaving casinos on casino-owned private roadway plaintiffs allege defectively designed.]

Sovereign Immunity

  • Mable Presley, Administratrix of the estate of Mattie Presley, deceased, and Charley Earl Presley, minor son, sole heir, and wrongful death beneficiary of Mattie Presley, deceased v. Mississippi State Highway Commission, Lehman-Roberts Company, Inc., Margaret Presley, and other individuals or entities who may be identified by discovery in this cause , Cause No. 89-32-C(P1), Circuit Court, Panola County
  • Presley v. Mississippi State Highway Commission , 608 So. 2d 1288 (Miss. 1992)  [Landmark case in which Supreme Court abolished sovereign immunity doctrine in Mississippi. Resulted in adoption of Mississippi Tort Claims Act. LINK to information on extensive coverage of the Presley case.]
  • Kaye Smythe, Administratrix of the Estate of Wes Smythe, on Behalf of said Estate and the Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Wes Smythe v. Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, Gamma Theta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, Gamma Theta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha House Corporation, and Mississippi State University , Cause No. 94-0325, Oktibbeha County [Wrongful death action against fraternity and state university for death of student who died in fall from roof of fraternity house.]
  • Sarah Jones and Lottie Still v. Mississippi Department of Transportation, Tunica County Board of Supervisors, et al , No. 1998-CA-01210-SCT, Mississippi Supreme Court. [Supreme Court opinion, June 11, 1999. Action for personal injuries suffered by occupants of automobile injured in one-vehicle accident at an unmarked "T- intersection." Court held viable cause of action stated where county and MDOT were alleged to have knowledge of the dangerous condition.]

Railroad Crossing Death Cases

  • Young v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Company , 618 F. 2d 332 (5th Cir. 1980) [Wrongful death action on behalf of heirs of driver whose vehicle was impaled on defective railroad grade crossing before being struck by train. Much-cited reported opinion by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding successful use of demonstrative evidence.]
  • Scott Soldan, individually and as wrongful death beneficiary and administrator of the estates of Jackie O'Conner Soldan, Zachary Scott Soldan, and Shannon Michelle Soldan, deceased v. Illinois Central Railroad, R. E. Roberson, Mike Inglish, Robert Bailey Inglish, and Positive Feed, Inc. , Cause No. 4706, Circuit Court, Panola County  [Death of mother and two infant children at defective inner-city railroad grade crossing.]
  • Stella Catherine Beloate Beville, Administratrix of the Estate of Robert Hawkins Beville, deceased, for said estate and the wrongful death beneficiaries of Robert Hawkins Beville, deceased v. Burlington Northern Railroad, 960 F. 2d 546 (5th Cir. 1992) [Wrongful death case for death of husband/father wage-earner at rural grade crossing where vision was obscured by vegetation.]
  • Bettye Jo Byars, Individually and as the Wrongful Death Beneficiary and Administratrix of the Estate of Any Byars, Deceased and Jean Guest, Individually and As the Wrongful Death Beneficiary and Administratrix of the Estate of Joe Miller Guest, Jr., Deceased, v. Illinois Central Railroad and L. D. Green, Cause No. 93-18-C(T2), Circuit Court of the Second Judicial District of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi--[Wrongful death case. Crossing signals were not working as result of defective "loop wiring."]

Truck Cases

  • Alfred Earl Mills, Administrator of the estate of Mark Lewis Mills, on behalf of said estate and the wrongful death beneficiaries of Mark Lewis Mills, deceased v. James Chancey, d/b/a James Chancey Trucking Company and Paul S. Chancey , Civil Action No. DC88-64-B-O (N.D. Miss.) [Jury verdict for plaintiffs in wrongful death action arising from death of 22-year old unmarried male. Substantial six-figure verdict in spite of considerable degree of contributory negligence by plaintiffs' decedent who turned in front of oncoming 18-wheeler.]
  • Anita Coghill, Executrix of the Estate of Eugene Coghill, on Behalf of Said Estate and the Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Eugene Coghill, Deceased v. Brown Trucking, Inc. and Willie James Jones , Cause No. 2:94CV62-B-O (N.D. Miss.) [ Successful wrongful death action for heirs of 58-year-old worker killed in collision caused by overtaking 18-wheeler.]
  • Joe Lee Davidson v. Delta Beverage Group, Inc. and Randall C. Tutor , Cause No. CV-92-117-B, Circuit Court, Panola County [$1 million jury verdict for driver injured in collision with soft drink truck. Settled for confidential amount during appeal.]
  • Walter A. Barbour v. Baylor Trucking, Inc. , Cause No. 10,322, Circuit Court, Desoto County [Substantial six-figure settlement for back injuries suffered by driver stopped in traffic when line of vehicles struck by 18-wheeler.]
  • Jennings v. Bunch Trucking Company , 748 F. Supp. 457 (N.D. Miss. 1990) Sullivan v. Bunch Trucking Company , Attala County Circuit Court.   [Wrongful death cases on behalf of families of deceased workers killed when vehicle collided with improperly parked 18-wheeler. Driver of truck had pulled over on side of interstate highway to sleep, leaving parking lights on. Failed to put out warnings or activate flashers. Driver of plaintiff vehicle "honed in" on tail lights and collided with rear of 18-wheeler in late night collision resulting in decapitation of occupants.]
  • Jerry Davis, Executor of the Estate of Joy Davis, Individually, and On Behalf of the Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Joy Davis v. Stanlee Smith d/b/a Smith Cattle Company and Clarence Blanchard , Cause No. CV 97-48C(P2), Circuit Court, Panola County [Wrongful death case from death of 58 year old secretary killed in collision with 18 wheeler in crossover of four lane highway. Trucker failed to reduce speed as required by statute during inclement weather.]
  • Barbara Kolb and Ronald Kolb v. Howard Baer, Inc. and James Albert , Cause No. 2:96CV27-B-B, United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Delta Division. [$495,000 recovery in case for personal injuries resulting from collision with 18 wheeler at night.]
  • Eugene White, Administrator of the Estate of Winston C. (Dennis) White, On Behalf of Said Estate and the Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Winston C. (Dennis) White, Deceased v. Three States Supply Company, Inc. , Cause No. DC90-W191-B-O, United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Delta Division. [Wrongful death for death of 78 year old unemployed driver struck by 18 wheeler. Jury verdict of $402,000 affirmed on post-trial motions.]
  • John Salter and Betty Salter v. Billy M. Westra, North American Van Lines, Inc., Norfolk Southern Corporation, Inc., et al, Cause No. CV-88-L-6265-NE, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Northeastern Division. [$1.03 million jury verdict in case for highway construction worker severely injured when struck by wheel which disengaged from axle of 18-wheeler as result of improper maintenance.]

Auto Cases

  • Don Neal Putman and Annie Ruth Putman, individually and as parents, natural guardians, and next friends of Angela K. Putman v. John J. Allen, Everette Allen, and Mary A. Allen , Cause No. 6103, Circuit Court, Panola County
  • Putman v. Insurance Company of North America , 673 F. Supp. 171 (N.D. Miss. 1988) [$2.1 million bench verdict for teenage girl suffering brain injury in automobile collision while riding with friends, and subsequent litigation of "umbrella" insurance coverage issues.]
  • Shirley Jean Douglas v. Ferguson Manufacturing, Inc. d/b/a FMI Plastics; Associated Products, Inc. d/b/a Hygiene Industries; National Gypsum Company d/b/a Gold Bond Building Products; Lawn-Boy, Inc.; and the City of Sardis, Mississippi , Cause No. 89-89-B(P1), Circuit Court, Panola County [Personal injury recovery for automobile accident victim injured when smoke covering roadway caused multi-vehicle pile up.]
  • Edwards v. Ellis , 478 So.2d 282 (Miss. 1985). [Admissibility of blood alcohol test administered to defendant motorist as part of medical treatment subsequent to collision as indicative of motorist's intoxication; testimony of pathologist as to effect of blood alcohol upon intoxication.]

Workers Compensation

  • David McCammon v. GFS Company and The Travelers Insurance Company , MWCC No. 90 13378-E-0424 4. [Employee member of seismographic crew rendered quadriplegic when crossing stream. Recovery for total disability and medical related expenses, including cost of a new, handicapped-equipped home.]