A jury in Florida has awarded $10 million to the parents of two teenagers killed in a head-on collision with a recreational vehicle driven by a 99-year-old man.
Facts and Allegations
Santia Feketa, 18, was driving on a road in Fort Pierce, Florida, with a passenger, Britney Poindexter, 17, when her vehicle was hit head-on by a 40-foot recreational vehicle driven by 99-year-old Walter Roney. The two teens died at the scene and Mr. Roney died a short time later.
Ms. Poindexter's mother and Ms. Feketa's father, acting as representatives of their daughters' estates, sued Mr. Roney's estate and Mr. Roney's passenger, companion, and caretaker, Carolyn Evans Bruns.
Ms. Bruns' insurer tendered its $1 million policy to settle her case just prior to trial; the two families equally divided the $1 million settlement.
Shortly before trial, the defense admitted liability. The trial solely addressed damages.
Result
The jury awarded $2.5 million to each of the four parents for their pain and suffering, $20,149.73 in funeral expenses to Ms. Feketa's estate, and $6,466.59 in funeral expenses to Ms. Poindexter's estate, for a total of $10,026,616.32.
The case is Poindexter v. Zacharzewski, Nos. 2:18-cv-14155, 2:18-cv-14156 (S.D. Fla. April 10, 2019). Attorneys involved include: Jack P. Hill; Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA; for Estate of Britney Poindexter; Karen E. Terry; Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA; for Estate of Britney Poindexter; Roger N. Messer; Messer & Messer Law Offices; for Estate of Santia Feketa; David A. Kirsch; Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A.; West Palm Beach, FL for Carolyn E. Evans Bruns; Robert E. Paradela; Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford P.A.; Fort Lauderdale, FL for Estate of Walter Roney; Patrick K. Dahl; Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford P.A.; Fort Lauderdale, FLfor Estate of Walter Roney.
Insurance Coverage Law Center Comment
This report is based on information that was provided by plaintiffs' counsel. Additional information was gleaned from court documents. Defense counsel did not respond to the reporter's phone calls.
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Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].