(Editor's Note: This article has been updated)
Madison County jurors awarded a motorist $20,000 in a lawsuit alleging he suffered injuries in a rear end collision in Godfrey.
The three-day trial ended Wednesday in Circuit Judge Sarah Smith’s courtroom after jurors returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff Kyle Plummer.
Plummer was represented at trial by Tim Chartrand and Taylor Fehrenz of Williamson Webster Falb & Glisson in Alton.
Defendant Natalia Bishop was represented by Joel Beckwith of Freeark Dennis Murphy & Moskop PC in Belleville.
According to a statement of the case filed Oct. 21, Bishop admitted she was negligent. The issue before the jury was the nature and extent of damages.
Plummer filed the original complaint on Oct. 29, 2019, against Bishop.
Plummer later filed a two-count amended complaint on Sept. 24, 2020. He claimed he was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu on Nov. 2, 2018, when he was stopped at a red light on West Delmar Avenue at its intersection with West Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey. Plummer claimed he was facing eastbound at the intersection. At the same time, Bishop was driving a 2001 Toyota Highlander on West Delmar Avenue and was approaching the intersection with West Homer Adams Parkway.
Plummer alleged Bishop negligently crashed into the rear of his vehicle “with enough force” to cause him to then hit the rear of the vehicle in front of him.
Plummer claimed Bishop owed a duty of reasonable and ordinary care in operating her vehicle when she negligently failed to reduce her speed to avoid the collision, failed to keep a proper lookout, drove too fast for conditions, failed to warn of the impending collision, drove too closely to Plummer’s vehicle, drove while distracted and failed to swerve to avoid the collision.
As a result of the collision, Plummer claimed he sustained injuries to his head, neck, back, arms, and ears, among other parts of his body. He alleged he endured pain and suffering, lost his normal life and incurred medical expenses.
Plummer sought more than $50,000 for each count, plus attorney’s fees and court costs.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 19-L-1532