Verdicts and Settlements

Daughtery, Crawford, Fuller & Brown, LLP has obtained over $52,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for clients since 2006.

BUSINESS DISPUTES / BUSINESS TORTS / BUSINESS FRAUD

$2,500,000 jury verdict — April 24, 2009: The firm represented Thione International, Inc., an Atlanta-based developer of nutritional supplements, in a dispute with a Florida-based marketer and distributor, Advanced BodyCare Solutions, LLC. Thione had been sued by Advanced at the time our firm got involved, and our firm defended Thione and pursued counterclaims for money damages. We associated Charlie Peeler from Albany, Georgia to assist with intellectual issues. Clay Fuller tried the case along with Charlie Peeler and local cousel Craig Zobel. On April 24, 2009, a jury returned a $2.5 million verdict in favor of Thione on its counterclaim for breach of contract and found against Advanced on its claims. Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida presided over the two-week trial. At the time of the verdict, the only offer by Advanced to resolve the case involved Thione paying a significant amount to Advanced. Advanced BodyCare Solutions, LLC. v. Thione Intern., Inc., 06-81128-CIV-HURLEY (S.D. Fla.).
Confidential Settlement of Business Disputes — The firm represented a Georgia small business in a dispute over fraudulent charges by another business on credit/debit cards. Clay Fuller uncovered evidence proving the defendant made false statements in response to discovery. The case resolved favorably after the Court struck the defendant's answer for discovery abuse. Lone Oak Tree Farm LLC, v. Lilywala, et al., State Court of Troup County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Business Disputes — The firm represented a small Georgia company in a dispute with a Fortune 500 company over the breach of a release. The case resolved and the terms are confidential. Small Georgia Company v. Fortune 500 Company.
Confidential Settlement of Business Disputes — The firm represented a former business owner who was sued by the company that purchased the business. Our firm defended the former business owner and brought counterclaims seeking money damages that were due under the purchase contract. The case resolved confidentially in advance of trial. Elite Countertops, Inc. v. Murzea, Superior Court of Dekalb County, Georgia.

AUTOMOBILE DEFECT CASES/ PRODUCT DEFECT CASES

$15,085,000 jury verdict - February 2010. The firm, along with Pete Law and Mike Moran of the firm Law & Moran, represented Erica Maybaum and her family. Erica was badly injured when her family's Jeep Cherokee was struck by a drunk driver. Erica, who was twelve years old, suffered serious injury to her brain and spine. Erica's seat collapsed and she was thrown into the rear cargo area of the vehicle, where her head struck the floor. Suit was brought against Chrysler as the vehicle manufacturer, Johnson Controls who build the seat, and the drunk driver who caused the wreck. Pete Law, Mike Moran, and Jason Crawford tried the case in the State Court of Fulton County. Maybaum v. JCI et al., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
$3,000,000 jury verdict - December 2007. The firm represented the family of Mary Reese, who died as a result of a November 2, 2002 rear end collision. Mrs. Reese's seat broke and collapsed in the wreck, causing her to be thrown into the rear seat area and fracturing her spine. She was treated at the Medical College of Georgia until her death three weeks after the wreck. The trial was handled as a team by Pete Daughtery along with Pete Law and Mike Moran of the firm Law & Moran. In the years leading up to trial, Pete Daughtery and Dustin Brown worked extensively to prepare and streamline the case for delivery to the jury. The case involved more than a handful of experts for each side and involved dozens of boxes of documents produced in discovery. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a $3,000,000 verdict against Ford and found the collapsed seat to be defective. Reese v. Ford Motor Company, Civil Action File No. 2003A-10881-1 (State Court of Cobb County, Georgia) (J. Clayton).
Confidential Settlement - The firm represented Misa Brass along with attorneys Pete Law and Mike Moran of Law & Moran. Misa was seriously injured when the fuel tank of her family's Geo Tracker burst into flames when it was hit from behind by a Ford Explorer. Misa was seated in the rear seat and suffered extensive burns before she could be pulled from the Tracker. Her medical bills exceeded 1.5 million dollars in the year after the wreck and were estimated to exceed 6 million over her life. The firm sued all the corporations involved in the manufacture and design of the vehicle including General Motors, Suzuki Motor Corp., CAMI, and General Motors of Canada. The case settled for a confidential amount. Brass v. General Motors Corp., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement - The firm represented Karina Lozano who was paralyzed as a result of a wreck in Gainesville, Georgia. Karina was a rear seat passenger in a Ford Crown Victoria that was struck head-on by a driver who had crossed the center line. Karina had just turned six years old and was wearing the seat belt provided by Ford. We brought suit against Ford Motor Company for the paralysis injuries suffered by Karina. The damages for Karina's lost income and future medicals were estimated to exceed twenty million dollars. In the weeks just before trial, the case settled for a confidential amount. Banks v. Ford Motor Company et al., State Court of Cobb County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement - Two-year-old Evan Johnson sustained third degree burns over roughly half of his body when the pilot light of a water heater ignited flammable vapors, causing a fire in the basement of Evan's home. The firm represented Evan in bringing suit against various manufacturers as well as the builder of the home. Evan Johnson v. Electrolux Home Prods., Inc. et al., Civ. Act. File No. 02VS041310C (State Court of Fulton County, Georgia).
Confidential Settlement - On Sunday, June 18, 2006, Billy Sheppard died when the zero-turn radius Toro lawn mower he was using flipped over. The firm represented his family in bringing claims against the manufacturer of the zero-turn radius Toro mower. The terms of the settlement are confidential. Sheppard v. The Toro Company d/b/a Exmark Mfg. Co., Civ. Act. No. 4:07-cv-00064-CDL (M.D. Ga.).

CAR ACCIDENT/ WRECK / PERSONAL INJURY/WRONGFUL DEATH

$3,461,122 jury verdict for bicyclist - December 10, 2009, The firm represented the family of Scott Matty, who was struck from behind and killed while riding his bicycle on Route 315 near Ellerslie Place in Harris County. On behalf of Scott's family, the firm brought claims for Scott's injuries and wrongful death. The defense of "legal accident" was initially asserted, but we uncovered evidence proving the driver who struck Scott was 100% at fault for the wreck and that Scott was entirely without fault. In light of that evidence, just before trial the driver admitted fault and admitted the violating rules of the road including following too closely, failing to yield the right of way, failing to maintain her lane, improperly passing a vehicle traveling in the same direction, and failing to maintain a proper lookout. The case was tried by Dustin Brown and Jason Crawford, and the jury returned a $3,461,122 verdict after a two-day trial. Matty v. Griffin, Superior Court of Muscogee County, Georgia
$637,685.64 jury verdict for bicyclist - September 18, 2009. The firm represented an Army Ranger who was hit from behind when bicycling on Route 137 near Cusseta, Georgia. The wreck occurred on a west-bound stretch of road with the sun setting almost directly in the driver's vision field, and the defense of "sudden emergency" was claimed due to the blinding nature of the setting sun. The defense attorneys created a re-enactment video that showed sunlight so blinding that it would have created a "sudden emergency," but our firm proved the video didn't accurately portray the sunlight and, thus, it was not permitted at trial. The defense also claimed that there were no real damages, as the Army Ranger looked healthy, appeared to have made a complete recovery, and had no permanent disability. Using testimony from treating physicians and his superiors, we proved that our client's injuries did cause permanent limitations in the high-level physical work required in his career. Jason Crawford and Dustin Brown tried the case in federal court in the Middle District of Georgia. After a four-day trial, the jury returned a $637,685.64 verdict.
$584,000 settlement - The firm represented a woman who began to suffer from symptoms of traumatic brain injury following a relatively minor car wreck in LaGrange, Georgia. The proof that the traumatic brain injury was caused by the wreck was challenging due to the low speed wreck, plus the fact that the client had brain surgery a month after the wreck to remove a cyst. Despite those challenges, our firm effectively proved the traumatic brain injury was caused by the wreck using testimony from treating doctors in connection with testimony of friends and co-workers noting her personality changes immediately following the wreck and before the surgery. The insurance limits were recovered from the driver of the vehicle, and our firm continued to search for additional sources of recovery. We gathered evidence showing that the driver of the vehicle, despite being on a lunch break, was nonetheless "on the job" such that we were able to recover additional insurance coverage from his employer.
$450,000 settlement - The firm represented a Columbus resident who was injured when his vehicle was struck while he was turning into his home's driveway. He did not seek medical treatment until several days after the wreck, but he eventually underwent back surgery months after the wreck. We were able to show that the trauma of the wreck caused his back injury. The case resolved after the case was scheduled for trial. Billingsley v. Seasonal Concepts, Superior Court of Muscogee County, Georgia.
Confidential settlement - The firm represented the family of a Columbus woman whose life was lost when a vehicle crossed the center line of Highway 208 in Harris County, Georgia and struck the driver's side of her vehicle. The firm proved that the driver who caused the wreck was driving for work purposes so that the employer's insurance would be available. Superior Court of Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia.
Confidential settlement - The firm represented Jeffrey Haygood who sustained a serious back injury as a result of a rear-end collision. On July 4, 2004, Mr. Haygood was involved in a low speed collision when his car was hit from behind by a Loomis Fargo & Co. armored truck. The impact caused Mr. Haygood's cervical spine to hyperextend, resulting in spinal cord swelling and ultimately requiring surgery to fuse his cervical spine. The testimony of the treating physician was crucial in proving that the low-impact wreck caused the hyperextension of the spine that injured Mr. Haygood. The case resolved within weeks of the scheduled trial date. Haygood v. Loomis Fargo & Co. et al., Civ. Act. No. CV-06-3503 (Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama)
$875,000 Settlement - The firm represented a Marine who sustained a herniated disc in his lower back as a result of a wreck near Augusta, Georgia. At the time of the wreck, the enlisted Marine had just completed Officer Candidate School. Following the wreck, his back caused him problems, and he underwent a conservative course of treatment on his back for more than a year. He ultimately had to undergo spinal fusion surgery at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels. The medical expenses for his treatment amounted to approximately eighty thousand dollars. Given the amount of time before surgery, a big issue was whether the need for back surgery was caused by the wreck. Using the testimony of treating physicians, our attorneys were able to prove that the wreck was the direct cause of the lower back injury and the need for surgery. Soon after the case was placed on the court's ready-list for trial, the insurance company paid $875,000.00 to resolve the case. Burley v. Culpepper Motor Co., Civil Act. File No. 2006 RCSC 72 (State Court of Richmond County, Georgia).
Confidential Settlement - The firm represented a Columbus resident who was injured when an oncoming vehicle turned left directly into her vehicle's lane of travel. She was badly injured and sustained multiple fractures in her foot and leg. The parties reached a cash settlement with the defendant motorist and with the excess coverage through the underinsured motorist carrier. Cavis v. Cleaves, Superior Court of Coweta County, Newnan, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement - The firm represented the family of a young woman who was tragically killed as she rode in a car as a passenger. The driver of the vehicle was intoxicated, and the insurance limits were recovered from both the liability and uninsured motorist carriers in this case.
Confidential Settlement - The firm represented a Eufaula, Alabama man who was badly injured in a wreck on State Highway 16. He was badly cut and also bruised from the wreck, and he eventually had to undergo surgery to repair knee damage from the wreck. The parties reached a settlement through the liability insurance carrier for the defendant. Goodpasture v. J & J Land Development, State of Alabama.
Confidential Settlement of Alcohol & Dram Shop Case - The firm represented the family of Kelly Caldwell and Dylan Eurell in bringing wrongful death and personal injury claims. During the summer of 2006, Chuck and Kelly Caldwell and their grandson, Dylan Eurell, were traveling west on Ledo Road in Lee County, Georgia when an oncoming drunk driver crossed the center line and collided with their vehicle. The collision killed both Chuck and Kelly Caldwell and resulted in serious injuries to their grandson, Dylan. On behalf of Kelly Caldwell and Dylan Eurell, we brought a dram shop action against Lee Pub as a result of their patron becoming intoxicated and causing this head-on collision. The parties reached a confidential settlement with the bar, the defendant motorist, and the underinsured motorist carrier. Barron et al. v. Littleton, Superior Court of Lee County, Leesburg, Georgia; Barron et al. v. Jenkins d/b/a Lee Pub, Superior Court of Lee County, Leesburg, Georgia.

CLASS ACTIONS / CONSUMER CASES

Refund of Unauthorized Workers Comp Insurance Premiums - The firm represented a class of Georgia nurses who were placed in positions by a temporary employment agency which deducted workers' compensation insurance premiums from their paychecks. The Court approved a settlement where the workers will receive every penny of deducted insurance premiums, plus interest, without having to submit a claim form. Not a single class member opted out of what is believed to be the first class action resolved successfully in state court in Hall County, Georgia. Bennett v. Comprehensive Nursing Care, Inc., Civil Action File No. 2006 CV 1724B (Superior Court of Hall County, Georgia).
$9,000,000 In Settlement Relief for Refund of Credit Insurance Unearned Premiums - The firm brought claims on behalf of a consumer who bought a credit insurance policy from MS Life Insurance Company. We worked with another law firm in pursuing these claims and were able to reach a nationwide settlement. The Court approved a settlement in which the consumers would receive a refund of the entire amount of any unearned premiums, plus interest. Dillion v. MS Life Ins.Co.

CASES HANDLED IN APPELLATE COURTS

Our lawyers have handled appeals in both federal and state courts. During 2009 and 2010, our lawyers argued two important cases to the Supreme Court of Georgia, one before the Court of Appeals of Georgia, and two cases before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Past Cases Handled By The Lawyers* Of Daughtery, Crawford, Fuller & Brown While Working At Another Law Firm

BUSINESS DISPUTES / BUSINESS TORTS / BUSINESS FRAUD

Confidential Settlement with Venture Capitalists - The founders of an internet security company became involved in a dispute with venture capital investors over the appropriate share price to be paid the founders upon their exit from the company. The founders claimed that they were entitled to receive the same price per share as the venture capital investors. A shareholder agreement set forth these rights, but the venture capital investors claimed that the provision in question found its way into the document by "mistake." After intensive document discovery and several depositions, including depositions of the corporate lawyers at King & Spalding and Alston & Bird who drafted the deal documents, the case concluded with a confidential settlement favorable to the founders. Lyman, et al (Counterclaimants) v. GE Capital et al, Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia.

AUTOMOBILE DEFECT CASES / PRODUCT DEFECT CASES

Product Liability / Roof Crush -- Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement of Rollover/Roof Crush Case - Perry and Amanda Steiner brought suit against General Motors after a rollover in their 1998 Pontiac Montana. The roof structure of the Montana crushed onto Perry and Amanda during the rollover, leaving both quadriplegics. Both were wearing their seatbelts and both were seated on the passenger side of the vehicle where the roof crushed. The other three family members were also belted but were on the side of the vehicle where the roof did not crush and were able to walk away from the wreck without injury. Steiner v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court of Kansas.
Confidential Settlement of Rollover/Roof Crush Case - Martha Stansell and her husband, Major Jackson Stansell, brought suit against Ford after they were involved in a rollover in a 1996 Ford Explorer. The roof of the Explorer crushed into the occupant space, striking the Stansells and leaving Martha a quadriplegic and Major a paraplegic. They were both wearing their seatbelts and were both on the passenger side where the roof crushed. On the driver's side of the Explorer where the roof did not crush, the two occupants suffered much less severe injuries from which they fully recovered. Stansell v. Ford Motor Co., Court of Common Pleas, Hampton County, South Carolina.
Confidential Settlement of Post Collision Fire Case - Sherry Bradstreet brought suit against General Motors on behalf of her sister and her sister's three sons after all were killed when the car they were traveling in became engulfed in flames due to punctures to the vulnerable side-mounted fuel tank in the C/K pickup truck that struck their vehicle. Bradstreet v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court of Montana, Missoula Division.
Confidential Settlement of Seat Back Failure Case - Mrs. McCutchen was involved in a rear-impact collision and the driver's seat of her 1990 Cadillac Sedan DeVille failed. She "ramped" underneath her seatbelt and into the back seat where she broke her back at T-11. Mrs. McCutchen, who was 74 years old at the time, was rendered a permanent paraplegic. McCutchen v. General Motors Corp., State Court of Troup County, Lagrange, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Post Collision Fire Case - The GM pickup truck with side-saddle fuel tank design exploded in a collision severely burning Brian Chamberlain. He brought claims against General Motors for the injuries caused by the punctures and failures of the vulnerable side-mounted tank and vulnerable filler neck of the pickup truck. Chamberlain v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court of Kansas
Confidential Settlement of Post Collision Fire Case - Alvin Phillips brought suit against GM on behalf of his daughter, son-in-law, and two of his grandsons. Three of them were killed and one was injured when their Chevrolet pickup truck became engulfed in flames due to punctures to the vulnerable side-mounted fuel tank in a collision with a tractor-trailer. Phillips v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court of Montana, Missoula Division.
Confidential Settlement of Post Collision Fire Case - Mr. Bampoe-Parry's 1985 Chevette was struck in the rear by a Volvo while he was trying to merge onto the interstate in Atlanta. The fuel system on the Chevette failed resulting in a post collision fuel-fed fire that ultimately killed Mr. Bampoe-Parry. Bampoe-Parry v. General Motors Corp., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Door Latch Case - The family of Mr. Cooper brought suit against GM after the door of his Chevrolet S-10 pickup came open during a wreck. The door latching system failed, allowing the door to open and partially ejecting Mr. Cooper and causing his death. Cooper v. General Motors Corp., Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, First Judicial Circuit.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The case involved a defective fuel system in a GM "A-Car." Lottie E. Knott and Mary A. Whaler died as a result of a post-collision fuel-fed fire in a 1979 Chevrolet El Camino which was struck in the rear by a 1978 Ford Fairmont. Hamil/Knott v. General Motors Corp., White/Whaler v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division.
Confidential Settlement of Door Latch Case - The mother of young children brought suit against GM after her daughter was killed and son injured when the mother's Pontiac Grand Prix crashed, the Type III door latch failed, the door opened, and her children were ejected. Simmons v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The spouse of 46-year-old man brought suit against GM after he was killed in a wreck when the side-mounted fuel tank of the truck he was riding in punctured and caused an explosion. Peterson v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court, District of Kansas.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The case involved a GM pickup truck with side-saddle furl tank that caught fire in a collision, causing the death of a 41-year-old woman. Barnes v. General Motors Corp., Court of Common Pleas, State of South Carolina, County of Richland.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - Jeanette Douglas died from fire after the Chevrolet pickup truck she was a passenger in became engulfed in flames due to punctures to vulnerable side-mounted fuel tank in a collision with another truck. Douglas, et al. v. General Motors Corp., Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, Washoe County.
Confidential Settlement of Jeep Rollover Case - A 19-year-old man was rendered a paraplegic when the 1980 CJ-5 in which he was a belted passenger rolled over after striking a curb. Morgan v. Chrysler, et al., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Door Latch Case - The parents of a young man brought suit after their son was killed when his 1987 Pontiac Grand Am rolled over, the Type III door latch failed, the door opened, and he was ejected. Conkle v. General Motors Corp., State Court of Muscogee County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The surviving parent of a young man brought suit against GM after her son was killed by fire when his motorcycle had a side impact collision with a Chevrolet pickup truck. Randolph v. General Motors Corp., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The mother of a 22-year-old man brought suit when her son was killed by fire after his GM truck hit a bridge and the side-saddle fuel tank design caught fire.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The surviving wife and mother brought suit against GM after her husband and young son were killed by fire when the Chevrolet pickup in which they were riding was struck by a Ford Escort that crossed the center line of the roadway. Seebeck v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The surviving parents of a young man brought suit against GM after their son was killed by fire when his motorcycle had an extremely low speed side impact with a GM pickup. Cockrum v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
Confidential Settlement of Automobile Fire Case - The surviving wife brought suit against GM after her husband was killed by fire when the pickup in which he was riding was struck by a trailer that separated from another vehicle. Wilson v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court of Tulsa County, Oklahoma.
Confidential Settlement of Seat Back Failure Case - The family of 7-year-old Austin Bundrick brought suit against Ford after he was killed when the front seat-back of the vehicle in which he was traveling collapsed and caused him severe head trauma and death. Bundrick v. Ford Motor Co., Court of Common Pleas for the County of Richland, State of South Carolina.
Confidential Settlement of Tire Tread Separation, Rollover, and Roof Crush Case - The driver of a Ford Explorer suffered life-altering injuries and was paralyzed after a tire separated and the Ford Explorer rolled over and sustained severe roof crush. The parties agreed to a confidential settlement of this case against Ford Motor Company and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Jackson v. Ford Motor Co., State Court of Troup County, Lagrange, Georgia.

CAR ACCIDENT / WRECK/ PERSONAL INJURY /WRONGFUL DEATH

Confidential Settlement of Alcohol & Dram Shop Case - A dram shop action was brought against Hooters' as a result of a patron becoming intoxicated at a Hooters bar and then causing a head-on collision which resulted in the death of a 29-year-old woman. Additional settlement amounts were recovered from defendant motorist and underinsured motorist carrier. McGray, et al. v. Hooters of America, Inc., et al., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Wrongful Death Case - After a tread separation on a tire of a van that was transporting children, the van's driver lost control and the van overturned. The children in the van were all injured, and one of the children was killed. The parties reached a confidential settlement. Gandy et al. v. Michelin North America, Inc. et al., Superior Court of Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement of Tractor-Trailer Wreck - Kerri Hayes, Jacob Hayes, and their stepfather James Richardson were killed when their truck was struck by a flatbed tractor-trailer near Albany, Georgia. The family was turning left at an intersection when the tractor-trailer ran a red light and "t-boned" the pickup. The tractor-trailer driver was distracted and failed to see them in time to stop or even slow down prior to impact. Richardson, et al. v. William Scottsman, Inc. and Andrew Kegler, State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
$1,750,000 Settlement In Accident Involving Pedestrian - A 46-year-old man died when struck as a pedestrian by a tractor-trailer rig. His wife saw the aftermath of the collision, and the settlement included claims for her emotional distress in addition to wrongful death and estate claims. Hutcherson v. The Progressive Corporation et al., United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia.
$800,000 Settlement In Motorcycle Accident - A 34-year-old man who was a construction worker suffered multiple fractures when his motorcycle was hit by a truck making an illegal U-turn. Liddell v. K.D. Curry Enterprises, State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
Confidential Settlement - A young mother was killed when a tractor trailer crossed the center median of Interstate 94 and blocked the oncoming lane of traffic in which she was traveling thereby colliding with the young mother's vehicle and resulting in her death. The parties reached a confidential settlement. Athakhanh v. Covenant Transport, Inc.

PREMISES LIABILITY

Confidential Settlement - A 29-year-old female was assaulted due to inadequate hotel security while attending a trade show at Defendant's Atlanta hotel. Anderson v. Radisson Hotel Corp., United States District Court, Southern District of Georgia.
$3,250,000 Settlement - Case involved an attack, assault, and robbery of a guest of a hotel that provided no security despite its location in a dangerous area. Unnamed Plaintiff v. LaQuinta Motor Inns, Inc., State Court of Muscogee County, Georgia.
$3,136,265 Structured Settlement - A child died when using recreational equipment. As part of the settlement, the plaintiff insisted that defendant adopt a safety plan to prevent future injuries. Unnamed Plaintiff v. Unnamed Defendant, State Court of DeKalb County, Georgia.

CLASS ACTIOINS / CONSUMBER CASES

"Universal Life" Insurance Policies - Jason Crawford, Clay Fuller, and Dustin Brown worked extensively on this nationwide class action related to the sale of "universal life" insurance policies and, more specifically, administration of those policies with respect to periodic premium charges. Mr. McBride saw his $150 monthly premium, which he had paid regularly for 13 years, unilaterally increased by the company every year on his birthday, starting around the 14th year of his policy. Ultimately, Mr. McBride's premium obligation tripled. The case was settled on a class-wide basis and obtained massive benefits for consumers. The nationwide class action settlement was approved on August 12, 2004, and it made more than $153 million in relief available to the class members, including the opportunity to receive a guarantee from the company that premiums could not be increased by the company during the life of the policies.
Credit Insurance Unearned Premium Litigation - Jason Crawford, Clay Fuller, and Dustin Brown worked extensively in cases involving credit insurance. The claims relate to the insurance companies' uniform practice of failing to refund unearned premiums when the customer's loans are paid off early. In the first of these cases to reach certification, the Muscogee County Superior Court certified a nationwide class at the end of the day long hearing handled by Jason Crawford. This class certification order approving class action treatment was affirmed in its entirety on July 10, 2006 by the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Government Payments For Ambulance Services - Jason Crawford, Clay Fuller, and Dustin Brown were heavily involved in a nationwide class action against the United States government over the Department of Health and Human Services ("DHHS") failing to compensate ambulance suppliers under a "fee schedule" as directed by Congress. Within only six months after filing suit, the plaintiffs had secured class certification and summary judgment in favor of the class members over strenuous opposition. Soon thereafter, the DHHS published a proposed new fee schedule in accordance with the trial court's Order that would provide payment of over $80 million dollars to affected ambulance suppliers. On appeal the Eleventh Circuit overturned the decision on jurisdictional grounds, never reaching the merits of the dispute.

*The lawyers of DCFB were involved in the representation of these cases while they were attorneys at the law firm of Butler, Wooten, Fryhofer, Daughtery & Crawford, LLP.

These prior case results are not representative of the value of any other cases and no case results are guaranteed. Each case is different and the results differ based on the facts of the individual case. Also, some of the above cases were handled with assistance of co-counsel or with the aid of an attorney that hired our firm.

Free personal injury consultation: Contact a lawyer at Daughtery, Crawford, Fuller & Brown in Columbus, Georgia, for a free initial consultation today so we can begin to protect your rights.