Settlements Of The Month, The Firm - Tuesday, November 8, 2011 15:19 - 0 Comments

Settlement In Work-Related Case

Our firm recently settled a lawsuit that was pending in Etowah County, Ala. We represented Terry Franklin, a driver for Koch’s Poultry, in the case that arose out of a motor vehicle accident. On the date at issue, Mr. Franklin had picked up a load of chickens with his commercial vehicle and was traveling back to the processing plant in Gadsden. While traveling back to the processing plant, Mr. Franklin encountered a drunk driver who made a left hand turn in front of his vehicle, causing a collision.

Mr. Franklin sued a local bar where the drunk driver had been drinking prior to the wreck as well as the uninsured motorist carrier for Koch’s poultry, his employer. He also sued his employer for his workers’ compensation benefits. Our client suffered a shoulder injury, neck injury, a concussion and traumatic glaucoma to his right eye. He has had an interior cervical fusion surgery and receives pain management for his continued neck pain. Mr. Franklin was unable to go back to work either as a truck driver, or as a diesel mechanic, which are the only two vocations he has known.

The case settled for a confidential amount. In addition to the monetary amount paid, the settlement left medicals open and included a waiver of the workers’ compensation lien. The case was handled by Mike Crow from our firm and Donald Rhea, a very good lawyer from Gadsden. They did an excellent job in the case and reached a very good settlement for Mr. Franklin.