On October 18, 2023, the plaintiff was on his lunch break from work as an elementary and middle school gym teacher. He was stopped at a red light when a Detroit Water and Sewerage Department van crashed into the rear of his car without braking.
The force of the impact crushed the rear of the car, pushed the back seat forward into the driver's seat, and sent the vehicle about 100 feet into an intersection. Witnesses testified that the city driver appeared to be looking at a device in his hand before the collision.
The teacher was found dazed or unconscious after the crash 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.
The injuries did not disappear after the scene cleared. In the years after the collision, he continued to deal with symptoms that made it difficult to work and live normally. During that time, he lost two teaching jobs.
At first, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department did not admit fault. At trial, the City of Detroit admitted fault during closing arguments. Evidence also raised serious questions about the city driver's driving record and why he had been entrusted with operating a city van.
The City's only formal offer before trial was $25,000. Michigan Legal Center trial attorneys Amy DeRouin, Sharbel Massoud, and Jon Abent presented the case to a Wayne County jury.
The jury awarded $5.2 million. The result reflected the evidence that the teacher had done nothing wrong, that the crash was preventable, and that the injuries changed the course of his work and daily life.
The verdict held the City accountable for a preventable crash that disrupted the teacher's health, work, and daily life.
Past results are not a guarantee. Each case depends on its facts and law.