Vol. 54 No. 6

Trial Magazine

Verdicts & Settlements: Motor Vehicle Liability

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Failure to Heed Red Light at Intersection

June 2018

Aundre Hobbs, 15, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his friend, teenager Armon Jones. Jones reportedly turned left at a green left-turn signal and collided with James Gorham’s vehicle. Hobbs suffered a traumatic brain injury that necessitated several life-saving surgeries. Now 17, he has lost the ability to speak, swallow, or chew solid foods and has severely diminished mobility, necessitating a wheelchair and walker. His medical expenses were more than $1.46 million.

Hobbs’s parents, on his behalf, sued Gorham, alleging he failed to heed a red light at the intersection and was responsible for the collision. Suit also claimed that Gorham was driving 50 mph through the intersection—10 mph over the speed limit, according to black-box evidence obtained from his vehicle. Finally, the plaintiff claimed that Gorham was driving while distracted before the collision.

Gorham argued that Jones—who was also named in the lawsuit—failed to yield the right of way by turning left in front of his vehicle.

Both of the defendants denied liability.

The plaintiff agreed to a structured settlement of $15 million, paid by Gorham’s insurer. Jones’s insurer settled for $25,000.

Citation: Hobbs v. Gorham, No. 2016-CV-000734 (Kan. Dist. Ct. Wyandotte Cnty. Jan. 16, 2018).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Kirk Presley and Brett Williams, both of Kansas City, Mo.