This is an update (eg., more details on this verdict):
Columbia, Kentucky - Saturday Morning July 16, 2005, an Adair County jury returned a verdict in favor of Christopher Cowan and Cortney Cowan against Alamo Group, M & W Gear Company and Haven Steel Products, Inc. The multi-million dollar verdict is the largest ever in Adair County and believed to be the first ever tried to verdict in that county exceeding $100,000.00.
The Jury found that the defendant Alamo and Haven manufactured and placed on the market mowing equipment in an unreasonably dangerous condition and that the companies acted with reckless disregard for the lives and safety of others. The jury awarded punitive damages in the total amount of four million dollars ($4,000,000.00).
The case was tried for two weeks on behalf of Christopher Cowan whose leg was practically severed off when he was struck by the defective mower blade that cracked apart and shot out from under his M&W mower.
Christopher and Cortney Cowan were represented by David W. Son and Vanessa Pollard, of Fernandez Friedman Grossman Kohn & Son PLLC in Louisville. The case was defended by James D. Harris, Jr. of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP in Bowling Green, Kentucky and George Vernon of the Vernon Law Office from Wisconsin for Alamo Group & M&W Gear Company and by Charles E. English, Jr. of English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley of Bowling Green, Kentucky for Haven Steel Products, Inc.
In addition to the punitive damages, compensatory damages in the case were awarded as follows.
Past Medical Expenses: $104,775.87Future medical and related expenses $105,129.71
Pain and suffering $500,000.00
Destruction of the power to earn money $1,438,045.50
Loss of consortium $10,000.00
The total compensatory award is $2,157,951.08. For a total Jury award of $6,157,951.08. The jury found that Haven Steel was 50% responsible, Alamo Group 40% responsible and Christopher Cowan was 10% responsible.
Plaintiff Cowan was represented by Louisville Lawyer David W. Son with the law firm of Fernandez Friedman Grossman Kohn & Son PLLC, Office 502-589-1001.
The trial lasted two weeks and just ended last Saturday morning at 1 AM. It has been reported that this is the largest verdict out of this part of the state.
Share your congratulations and other kind thoughts for David by posting a comment!
Update on the Update ( added 7/25/2005)
David was kind enough to share with me the experts he used at trial -
- Economist - Dr. Bill Baldwin, Lexington, Transylvania University
- Metallurgist - Dr. Alan Johnson
- Ortho - Dr. Steve Henry
- Vocational - Sharon Lane
- Life care - Donna Adkins
- Human factors - Dr. Waldemar Karwowski
- Quality control systems expert - Peter Sawchuk
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