Personal Injury award against town
Controversy has hit a town in America after a verdict from a Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge ordered the reduction of a $350,000 personal injury/wrongful death award against the town of Blacksburg that stemmed from a fatal car accident.
The civil suit was filed against Blacksburg and the director of the Third Annual Greater Blacksburg Triathlon, held in 2000, where Sharon Knights alleged negligence for their failure to warn passing drivers of the race course. Triathlon applicant Gary Wayne Taylor died after his bike crashed into Knight’s car.
In Januray, he claimed that she had to seek counselling and required $750,000 in damages, to which the jury found that the town was negligent and awarded her $350,000.
However, in October, Judge decided to reduce the damages owed of Blacksburg to $50,000, because she suffered no personal injuries and her emotional traumas were resolved within six months.
He denied the motion of the town to set the jury verdict aside. It is thought that this verdict will reignite the eight year old liability suit.
It has been suggested that he may appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court and the attorney for Blacksburg stated that the town will counter-appeal if she does.
Updated on 11/5/2008