$6.7M Awarded in Missouri Traffic Fatality Lawsuit
A Missouri jury has awarded a West Plains family $6.7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.
The West Plains Daily Quill reports that Laurie Holesapple and her family sued the commission after her husband was killed in a 2013 traffic accident on U.S. 63.
The lawsuit claimed Joshua Holesapple died when his car was hit head-on by another car on U.S. 63 during road construction. Testimony showed the driver of the other car saw his lane was blocked by traffic cones, so he entered the northbound lanes, striking Holesapple’s car.
The Howell County trial ended on July 11.
Commission attorney John William Koenig said he was disappointed in the verdict but because of judgment limits, the commission will have to pay only about $409,000.