- Traumatic Brain Injury
$8,000,000 Total Settlement - Medical Malpractice/Negligent Administration of the DPT Vaccine
$3,500,000 Jury Verdict - Tractor Trailer Accident
$2,263,224.84 Total Combined Settlement - Trucking Accident
$2,100,000 Total Settlement - Traumatic Brain Injury / Closed Head Injury / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
$1,400,000 Total Settlement
Traumatic Brain Injury
$8,000,000 Total Settlement
While on a trip to Key West with her husband, the Plaintiff, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was severally injured when her car collided with an extended boom from a utility truck. Plaintiff was able to prove after extensive litigation over several years, which included many depositions, interrogatories, requests for production, etc., that the Defendant's subcontractor negligently failed to retract the boom in an effort to save time while removing the telephone pools which were damaged during Hurricane Andrew. The Plaintiff's child was prematurely delivered and survived the trauma of this massive accident. His mother, on the other hand, lost 25% of her brain, which has left her in a wheelchair and with significantly impaired mental faculties. It is unfortunate, but as a result of this accident the Plaintiff will require constant care for the rest of her life.
Difficulties in this case arose due to the Defendant Utility contracting with their master contractor to remove these poles. The master contractor then hired a subcontractor, who in turn hired another contractor to perform the job. The negligent driver in fact, was actually an employee of the subcontractors' subcontractor. Just before trial all of the Defendants elected to settle this matter rather than face being exposed to an even larger jury verdict.
Medical Malpractice/Negligent Administration of the DPT Vaccine
$3,500,000 Jury Verdict
The Minor Plaintiff, Bernard Forehand, Jr., was seriously injured when the Defendant Pediatrician's Nurse failed to communicate to the Defendant Pediatrician, David Tayloe that the Minor Plaintiff had an adverse reaction to the first vaccination shot. The administration of the second shot left the Minor Plaintiff with a significant brain injury. The Defendant Pediatrician, David Tayloe, who at that time was the President of the National Pediatric Association, strenuously fought this case all the way to a jury verdict. The jury handed down what was at that time the largest jury verdict in a medical malpractice case in the State of North Carolina, in the sum of 3.5 million dollars.
Tractor Trailer Accident
$2,263,224.84 Total Combined Settlement (Three Cases Listed Below)
In a misting rain, a tractor trailer was proceeding in the opposite direction from a tour bus when its trailer hydroplaned into the path of the tour bus causing a horrible accident and severely injuring several of the senior citizens aboard. Mr. Karney represented eleven of the passengers from the bus. The facts of this accident were reported by all of the national news networks that evening. The following are just three of the individuals who were injured passengers on the bus:
- Plaintiff One, after being airlifted to a local hospital, had part of her foot amputated which was crushed in this accident. Unfortunately, over the ensuing months the Plaintiff had future surgeries due to infections and other complications which resulted in a below the knee amputation. As with most amputations, Plaintiff One experienced phantom pain and sensation in that extremity. Extensive efforts were made and successful to have her properly fitted with a prosthesis. The case was subsequently settled in mediation for $1,213.000.00.
- Plaintiff Two severely injured her left leg, which required extensive surgery and hospitalization. Thereafter she spent several months in the living room of her home in a hospital bed with someone constantly tending to her needs. Complicating the situation was her husband, who also received minor injuries in the accident, who was at the time suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. At the present time, Plaintiff Two is doing quite well, traveling extensively with many friends and enjoying her children and grandchildren. This case was settled for $700,224.84.
- Plaintiff Three severely injured many major bones in her body including her ribs and pelvis and incurred injuries to her bladder and other parts of her body. After much therapy and rehabilitation to get back on her feet, Plaintiff Three is enjoying retirement in a senior living community. This case was settled prior to trial for $350,000.00.
Trucking Accident
$2,100,000 Total Settlement
The Plaintiff, aged 27 and at the time a resident of Tennessee, while traveling with his wife and another couple to Charlotte for a NASCAR event, was injured when their vehicle was reared by a truck. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and massive internal injuries which soon thereafter resulted in his death. The deceased Plaintiff, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, left a young wife and daughter. This case was settled after protracted mediation.
Traumatic Brain Injury / Closed Head Injury / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
$1,400,000 Total Settlement
In a case which received worldwide attention, Plaintiff was injured when the pilots of a national airline flew the plane they were piloting off the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York City into the adjoining river. The pilots excuse was each thought the other was at the controls of the airplane. There was a question as to whether the pilots were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of this horrific crash. After unsuccessfully attempting to settle this case himself, Plaintiff turned the matter over to his good friend and attorney, Robert Karney. Nearly three years after the accident and after extensive negotiations, Robert was able to settle the case for $1,400,000.00. In addition his wife received $100,00.00 for Loss of Consortium.
