A Prince George's County jury has awarded a $4.1 million verdict to the estate and family of a 20 year old male killed in a December 2007 accident.
Plaintiff David Gray was driving to the University of Maryland to attend classes when his vehicle was struck by a police cruiser. The police cruiser had crossed a double yellow line and collided with the Plaintiff's vehicle, causing the vehicle to be sent airborne across the street. Paramedics quickly arrived to the scene and transferred the Plaintiff to the Prince George's County Hospital Center, where he subsequently died from injuries sustained in the accident.
The Plaintiff's mother filed suit on her son's behalf against the Defendant, an off-duty police officer with the Prince George's County Police Department. In asserting that the Defendant negligently operated his vehicle, the Plaintiff's estate alleged that the Defendant was driving at twice the 25 mile per hour speed limit, that the Defendant was text messaging while driving his vehicle, and that the Defendant was under the influence of alcohol he had consumed the night before. The jury agreed with the Plaintiff's assertions, and awarded a total verdict of $4.1 million dollars. Of the $4.1 million awarded, $3.6 million went to the estate of the deceased, $500,000 to the Plaintiff's mother for pain and suffering, $35,000 for past medical expenses and $5,000 for funeral expenses.
