Hylla
Madison County jurors took only an hour to find for the defendant in a case stemming from man's alleged head and back injuries related to a jolt on a Granite City bus ride.
They found in favor of the Agency for Community Transit (ACT) and against plaintiff Richard Dermott at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Testimony concluded Tuesday afternoon as did closing arguments. The jury began deliberating at about 2:35 p.m.
Dermott alleged that the driver of an ACT bus in 2007 drove too fast over a bump in the road, causing him to jolt out of his seat and hit his head on the bus' ceiling.
Dermott claimed to have injured his back and neck.
His suit sought damages of at least $50,000, although his attorney, Earl Hubbs, only specified $16,000 in damages when he asked jurors to find for his client during his closing argument Tuesday.
Defense attorney Donald Ohl told jurors that he had seen no proof that his client's driver did anything wrong. He also contended that the plaintiff had not shown that the bus incident caused his alleged injuries.
Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla presided.
The case is Madison case number 08-L-525.