Can you tell us about the case or do we have to wait for it to be over?
It’s over now. It was a personal injury case on its 2nd trial after a mistrial in August. There originally were two defendants, but the one that was mostly at fault for the accident and subsequent injuries settled before this one. Our defendant was going 30-35 down the right lane of a city street that had three lanes in both directions with a grass median in the middle. It was rush hour, and the two lanes to the left of him were stopped to leave the intersection open until they could proceed.
The defendant that had settled previously was going in the other direction, following google maps, and missed the sign that said she couldn't make a left from 4-6pm. She stopped in the median area prior to crossing the three lanes. The driver in the middle car didn't see the guy coming on their right and waved the person making the illegal left across. Neither of the defendants apparently saw each other (i don't know how) until it was too late. The defendant in this case was cruising in the right lane, clipped the person making the illegal left, traveled 85 feet, rear ended the plaintiff going about 25 mph, pushed her into the car in front of her, and that car into the next car, resulting in a four car pileup. Plaintiff has back problems now that don't sound terrible, but enough to require significant treatment and changes in her day-to-day life.
The judge was great. She was from LeMars and baked us banana bread. Came in and spent 20 mins answering questions that we weren't allowed to ask during the trial. It was a pretty interesting experience. We never had to sit in the box for a long stretch and it was cool to hear the testimony from the forensic accident people and the different doctors on the causes and treatments for back injuries. I would hate to be on a civil case where somebody was paralyzed or worse.
We ended up letting the remaining defendant off. I clearly agree with the verdict even though the guy wasn't being a responsible driver.