Man alleging neck injury from collision reaps $4M verdict

A Jefferson County jury recently awarded a man nearly $4 million dollars for injuries he suffered in an automobile collision.

Claiming he sustained a neck injury after a driver rear-ended the vehicle he was riding in, plaintiff Dwayne Randle Sr. filed suit against Nadia Alexis Choates on March 14, 2013, in Jefferson County District Court.

The case went to trial Dec. 4 and lasted two weeks.

Jurors were not asked to assign negligence and instead were asked what sum of money would compensate Randle, dolling out $3,996,331.02 in damages, according to the charge of the court.

Randle alleges that on Aug. 4, 2012, he was ridding in a vehicle being driven by his brother. The vehicle was stopped at a stop sign when Choates rear-ended the vehicle.

Jurors awarded Randle $3,676,331.02 for his past and future medical expenses, $60,000 for his physical pain, $25,000 for his impairment and $10,000 for his future loss of household services.

Jurors also awarded Randle’s wife, Ruby, $225,000 for her past and future loss of consortium.

In his suit, Randle blames Choates for causing the collision, saying she negligently failed to control her speed, failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to timely apply her brakes, failed to drive in a safe manner and failed to control her vehicle.

Before the trial, Randle had filed a motion to exclude the testimony of one of the defense’s experts, Dr. Joseph Cormier, who was hired to testify on the biomechanics of the collision.

According to the motion, filed Nov. 21, Cormier found force of the collision did not result in Randle’s traumatic neck injury.

Tommy L. Yeates of Moore Landrey in Beaumont represents Randle.

Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, is presiding over the case.

Case No. B194-157