LaRue
Following a brief trial, plaintiffs who claim they suffered injuries in an automobile collision reaped more than $6,500 in damages.
In February 2010, Elizabeth Mullins and Debbie Mills filed a lawsuit individually and on behalf of their three minor children in Jefferson County District Court against Chau Thoung and Hue Tri Nguyen.
Mullins and Mills claim Mullins was driving a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire on Washington Boulevard in Beaumont on Aug. 5, 2009, when she stopped at the boulevard's intersection with 11th Street for a red light. Suddenly, Nguyen, who drove a 1997 Ford pick-up west on the same road, failed to control his speed and struck the Pontiac, according to the suit.
The case went to trial March 5 in Judge Bob Wortham's 58th District Court. A verdict was filed the following day.
According to the jury charge, jurors found no negligence on the part of the plaintiffs and assigned all the blame to Nguyen.
The plaintiffs were awarded $6,583 for the medical expenses and mental anguish, the charge shows.
Mullins and Mills blamed Nguyen for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to timely apply his brakes, failed to avoid the collision and failed to drive as a reasonable driver would have, court papers say.
David J. LaRue and Ryan Douglas White of Loncar and Associates in Beaumont represent the plaintiffs.
Case No. A189-267