BEAUMONT – A Vidor resident recently landed a jury verdict worth more than half a million dollars following the trial of an automobile collision lawsuit.
Seeking up to $1 million in damages, Eric Wayne Phillips filed suit against Gabriel Lopez on Sept. 13, 2018 in Jefferson County District Court.
Nearly a year later, the case was called up for trial.
According to the original petition, on Nov. 1, 2017, Phillips was coming to a stop at a red light on FM 105 in Orange County when Lopez rear-ended him.
The suit accused Lopez of being negligent for traveling at an unsafe speed, failing to keep a proper lookout and failing to apply his brakes in a timely manner.
At trial, the jury found that Lopez’s negligence caused the occurrence in question, according to the jury charge, filed on Sept. 18.
The jury awarded Phillips $213,247 for his past and future medical expenses, $140,000 for his past and future mental anguish, $165,000 for his past and future impairment.
Beaumont attorney Scott Browne represents the plaintiff.
The defendant is represented by David Knight and Associates in Houston.
Judge Justin Sanderson, 60th District Court, presided over the case.
Case No. B-202419