Crowder
The parents of a 16 year-old boy killed in a 2008 car accident settled their wrongful death suit Friday for $2.3 million.
Just prior to approving the settlement, Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder offered her condolences to Linda and Patrick McMahon, the boy's parents.
"I know it's hard to settle these cases because the loss is so personal," Crowder said.
The McMahon's suit against Odesco Industrial Services and truck driver Matthew Yon had been scheduled for trial this week.
The McMahons sued the company and Yon under Missouri's wrongful death laws. Odesco and Yon are from Madison County.
According to their complaint, Michael McMahon, the couple's son, was riding in car that was rearended by Yon's truck in February 2008. The 16 year-old was killed in the crash.
The suit contended that Yon was driving too fast, followed too closely and that he failed to keep lookout.
According to the McMahon's attorney Gary Growe, 30 percent of the settlement has been designated for attorneys' fees. Grove and Troy Walton, the other McMahon attorney, generated about $9,000 in litigation costs, also to be paid out of the settlement.
Both McMahons testified that they were satisfied with the settlement and asked Crowder to enter her approval.
Odesco and Yon are represented by Lawrence Grebel and Patrick Mickey.
The case is Madison case number 08-L-689.