A jury in Judge Barry Lawrence’s Third District courtroom has just returned a verdict of $2,700,000 for Lois Smith in the personal injury trial of Smith v. Volkswagen (see my blog for June 7th.) Deliberations took about four hours after an eight-day personal injury trial.
The jurors agreed that Ms. Smith had suffered some degree of brain injury as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from her Volkswagen Jetta. This was a hard-fought case between the experts on the issue of whether, and to what extent, Ms. Smith suffered CO poisoning, but plaintiff prevailed.
The only remaining defendant on the verdict was the dealer, Southtowne, as Volkswagen won on directed verdict on statute of limitations grounds.
There were apparently no significant economic damages (medical bills, lost wages); in other words, this award is all for general damages.
Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys involved in the case:
Plaintiff’s counsel: Mike Worel, Colin King, and Ricky Shelton, all of DKOW.
