An Evangeline Parish jury awarded the largest civil verdict in the parish since the verdict that was returned in the Mary Phyllis Soileau lawsuit filed against Smith True Value and John Deere in 2008.
The total verdict awarded was $3.8 million plus costs and interest.
The trial on behalf of plaintiffs Lawrence Franks and Robbie Franks was done by attorneys David Laborde and Derrick Earles as lead attorneys with Jacob Fusilier acting as local attorney.
“We were very pleased by the verdict,” Fusilier said. “So were our clients, and we were very happy and thankful for the jury’s decision. I’m always happy to be on the right side of a very just decision. For the Franks family, that’s what this verdict was. It was a very just and fair decision.”
The case against Reliant Transportation and other defendants stemmed from an incident where Lawrence Franks, who is in a wheelchair, was riding in a vehicle to medical appointments.
“The driver made an illegal left hand turn from the right lane and collided with another vehicle,” Fusilier said. “Mr. Franks was improperly restrained by the transportation company in the van and suffered severe neck injuries.”
“Prior to the accident,” Fusilier continued, “he lived a very active life. Because of the injuries, his quality of life has declined severely. ‘Digger’ Earles was able to show and prove that to the jury.”
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Tony Marks
Editor