Wayne County Jury Awards $5.2 Million Verdict to Teacher Injured in Collision With City of Detroit Vehicle

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich., June 26, 2026 — A Wayne County jury has awarded $5.2 million to a Michigan teacher who suffered traumatic injuries after his car was rear-ended by a Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van. The van violently crashed into the rear of a young man’s vehicle while he was stopped at a red light.

Michigan Legal Center attorneys Amy DeRouin, Sharbel Massoud and Jon Abent were the trial attorneys for this man against the City of Detroit.

“This verdict speaks loudly. My client was a young teacher, stopped at a red light, doing absolutely nothing wrong,” said Michigan Legal Center Founding Partner Christopher Trainor. “A City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van slammed into him so violently that it crushed his vehicle, broke his seat, and left him with life-changing injuries.”

On October 18, 2023, the plaintiff, an elementary and middle school gym teacher, was on his lunch break from work. He was stopped at a red light when a Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van slammed into the back of his car without braking.

The force of the impact crushed the car, causing the back seat to crumple and pushing it forward into the back of the driver’s seat. Witnesses saw the car pushed approximately 100 feet into an intersection.

Witnesses testified that the city driver appeared to be looking at a device in his hand and was not paying attention before impact.

The plaintiff was found dazed or unconscious after the crash, according to witnesses, and had to be carried away from the vehicle. He was later diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, herniated discs in his neck and herniated discs in his lower back.

In the almost three years since the collision, he has continued to suffer the effects of his injuries, making it difficult to work. During that time he lost two teaching jobs.

At first, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department did not admit fault. However, at trial, the city admitted fault during closing arguments. Evidence also showed that the city driver had a poor driving record and raised serious questions about why he was entrusted with operating a city van.

At the end of the trial, the jury awarded a $5.2 million verdict.

“The city’s only formal offer before trial was $25,000,” said Trainor. “Given the severity of the crash, the injuries and the evidence in this case, this was not a case that should have been tried. The jury saw what happened and held the city accountable.”

“This verdict reflects the jury’s finding that this young man’s life and career were significantly disrupted by a preventable collision caused by a city vehicle,” added Trainor.

About Michigan Legal Center

Michigan Legal Center, the Law Offices of Christopher Trainor and Associates, has been serving Michigan families since 1989. We handle serious personal injury, civil rights and police misconduct, wrongful death, employment law, and workers' compensation cases across Michigan.

Every attorney at this firm works in one of our ten Michigan offices. Every case is handled by people who know Michigan law and the Michigan court system in and out. There are no out-of-state referral fees and no cases handed off to associate firms in other states.

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