Trial Magazine

Hunter Brown, 25, was traveling to California on a Greyhound bus late at night. The bus stopped at a rest stop, and Brown left the bus to use the facilities. When the bus driver, Arthur Coley, began to pull away from the rest stop before Brown had reboarded, Brown tried to get his attention. Coley ran over Brown’s foot and back.

Brown died from his injuries. He is survived by his parents.

Brown’s parents, individually and on behalf of his estate, sued Greyhound Lines, alleging negligent hiring and training and vicarious liability. The plaintiffs asserted that Coley failed to take a headcount before leaving the stop, in violation of company policy.

The plaintiffs also asserted that Coley had knowingly left another passenger at a rest stop six months before Brown’s death. Suit did not claim lost income.

The defense argued that Brown had metabolized heroin in his system at the time of his death.

The jury awarded $20 million, finding Brown 10% at fault.

Citation: Becker v. Greyhound Lines, Inc., No. DC-17-16588 (Tex. Dist. Ct. Dallas Cty. Dec. 11, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Charla Aldous and Brent Walker, both of Dallas; and AAJ member Jane Paulson, Portland, Ore.

Plaintiff expert: Chris Ferroni, bus policy, Chicago.