Below are representative settlements and verdicts pursued and won by Gary O. Bruce over the past few years:
Automobile Collision Cases
1. R.R. v. Pizza Delivery Company
$950,000.00
Plaintiff, a soldier, was struck by a pizza delivery truck while walking across the street. The defendant denied liability prior to trial. Plaintiff suffered head injuries. Out of town firm declined the case and fired the client shortly before the statute of limitations ran. Suit was filed and facts discovered which supported the plaintiff's contentions that he suffered from severe head injuries as the result of a pizza delivery man being in a hurry to get back to the store.
2. M.S. v. Log Truck Company
$767,500.00
Plaintiff suffered from broken leg requiring surgical repair after defendant denied liability for wreck. Other lawyers contacted by the client blamed her for causing the wreck when she spun out of control before impact with the log truck.
3. Parents of minor child v. babysitter/Liability Insurance company
(6 figure confidential settlement against insurance carrier)
Insurance company failed to pay demand for policy limits of $25,000.00 in a timely manner and suit was filed. Prior to trial the insurance company settled the case with the parents of the minor child for an amount greatly in excess of the policy limits.
4. S.B. v. Individual
$300,000.00
After back surgery the insurance company was given the chance to settle but refused to pay $25,000.00. The carrier ultimately paid $300,000.00 for resolution of the case after exposing itself to bad faith claims from it's own insured.
5. J.D. v. Log Truck Company
$300,000.00
Law suit filed by Gary Bruce after client fired out of town lawyer who wanted to force a settlement for minimal amount. After suit filed and experts hired, the case settled at mediation.
6. P.W. v. Energy Company Truck
$195,000.00
Compensation for back surgery caused in collision.
7. L.O. v. W.L. Corp.
$190,000.00
Automobile accident resulting in shoulder surgery.
8. M.S. v. Individual
$175,000.00
Compensation for injuries arising from automobile collision.
9. M.B. v. minor/student driver
$150,000.00
Represents compensation for driver who was run off the road going to work by a student driver who had been drinking the night before. Client hired out of town lawyer who told him there was no case and fired him after holding the file for a year. Insurance Company denied claim until eve of trial when matter was resolved.
10. E.K. v. Auto Repair
$150,000.00
Compensation for injuries which occurred when faulty repairs to a vehicle led to a crash.
11. E.A. v. Individual
$145,000.00
Policy Limits recovered for client injured when in a car wreck while on the job. Workers compensation benefits paid in addition to this settlement.
12. B.C. v. Individual
$140,000.00
Plaintiff injured his low back while driving for his employer. Settlement was in addition to workers' compensation benefits which paid for his medical and lost wages.
13. R.S. v. Individual
$140,000.00
Plaintiff was struck from the rear which resulted in immediate onset of back pain and ultimate surgery. Represents settlement for all liability and uninsured motorist coverage available.
14. M.B. v. Individual
$125,000.00
Settlement for policy limits for mild brain injury. Suit required for resolution. Settled after depositions of health care professionals.
15. D.S. v. Individual
$120,000.00
Settlement for policy limits for increase in pain in back. Client had already had corrective surgery which was aggravated by the wreck.
16. S.C. v. City, Georgia
$110,000.00
Plaintiff was injured in a rear end collision caused by a police officer who struck her from the rear while on routine patrol. Plaintiff suffered injuries to her low back.
17. J.D. v. Individual
$100,000.00
Plaintiff received leg surgery due to a broken tibia. Defendant driver made left turn in front of plaintiff. Policy limits were exhausted.
18. F.J. v. Individual
$100,000.00
Plaintiff was injured when struck from the rear by a high school student. Plaintiff developed low back pain requiring surgery. Settlement was for policy limits.
19. M.M. v. Individual
$100,000.00
Plaintiff was injured when riding as a passenger in vehicle which left the road and struck a tree. Plaintiff also recovered workers' compensation benefits. This settlement represented payment of policy limits.
20. L.P. v. Individual
$100,000.00 (policy limits)
Rear end motor vehicle collision which resulted back surgery. Plaintiff had been diagnosed with back problems prior to wreck.
21. C.B. v. Uninsured Motorist Coverage
$80,000.00
Plaintiff was injured when struck from the rear and thrown out of the back of pickup truck. Plaintiff suffered injuries to his hip. Defendant was uninsured. Settlement for policy limits after suit was filed.
22. E.C. v. Individual
$75,000.00
Injury to Plaintiff's hand results in settlement of policy limits as a result of a motor vehicle wreck.
23. L.R. v. Individual
$75,000.00
Plaintiff received rotator cuff surgery resulting from a rear end collision. Defendant driver fell asleep at the wheel.
24. M.N. v. Tire Store
$72,500.00
Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle which left the road after a tire blew. It was determined that the defendant company should have replaced the tire instead of rotating tires. Plaintiff suffered injuries to her leg and back.
25. K.R v. Government Agency
$72,500.00
Plaintiff was injured when defendant made an improper turn in front of her vehicle.
26. M.S. v. Individual
$70,000.00
Wreck involved minor property damage and a delayed onset of symptoms which ultimately, more than 6 months later, resulted in an MRI being ordered showing disc damage had developed and surgery was required. This represents a settlement of all policy limits available. All reimbursement for surgery costs was negotiated.
27. J.R. v. DUI Individual
$60,000.00
Settlement for soft tissue injuries/back pain caused by drunk driver.
28. D.W. v. Individual
$55,000.00
Out of town lawyer dropped case. Soft tissue injury case was resolved after suit was filed. Workers compensation benefits also received.
29. M.B. v. Individual
$50,000.00
Plaintiff suffered a shoulder injury when she was involved in a motor vehicle wreck riding as a passenger on a motorcycle.
30. J.F. v. Individual
$50,000.00
Obtained liability limits for wreck caused by drunk driver.
31. S.B. v. Individual
$35,000.00
Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle collision and injured resulting in chiropractic and soft tissue treatment.
32. P.C. v. Individual
$25,000.00
Plaintiff awarded policy limits from rear end collision.
33. M.F. v. Individual
$25,000.00 (policy limits)
Plaintiff had surgery on shoulder due to impact of accident from DUI driver.
***These results are representation of case results from cases which were filed and either resolved by settlement or trial. This is simply a sampling. Most of these cases required suit but many are resolved without the need for suit or trial.
Truck Wrecks
1. B.T. v. Trucking Company
$1,100,000.00
Plaintiff was injured when truck merged in front of her vehicle causing her strike the rear of the tractor trailer. Plaintiff suffered permanent injuries to her leg resulting in an ankle injury.
2. P.W. v. Energy Company
Confidential Amount
Rear end collision with truck operated by the defendant employee results in settlement prior to trial.
3. M.M. v. Trucking Company
$190,000.00
Truck struck pedestrian resulting in a bulging disc and injury to left hip.
4. R.M. v. Rental Truck Company
$155,000.00
Automobile collision resulting in soft tissue injuries and surgery to the shoulder results in out of court settlement prior to trial.
5. S.S. v. Trucking company
$80,000.00
Log truck struck Plaintiff in the rear resulting in knee surgery.
6. E.D. v. Truck Company
$70,000.00
Injuries to shoulder resulting in out of court settlement prior to trial.
Premises Liability
1. G.S. v. Auto Center
$300,000.00
Plaintiff fell in wet area on floor caused by the defendant's employees mopping up a spill. No signs were put out. Plaintiff suffered injuries to his low back resulting in surgery.
2. P.P. v. Grocery Store
$167,500.00
Plaintiff recovers for injuries he sustained to his knee as a result of a fall which occurred when he fell in a wet substance on the floor of the grocery store. Claim denied before suit filed.
3. D.T. v. Bargain Store
$160,000.00
Plaintiff recovered for injuries sustained when she fell at the store in water.
4. K.K. v. Apartment Complex
$125,000.00
The minor child recovered for broken leg suffered when the swing set chain broke causing her to fall. Claim was denied before suit was filed.
5. F.W. v. Car Dealership
$90,000.00
Compensation prior to trial for knee injury when client fell in oil left in shop area. Claim denied before suit was filed.
6. E.C. v. Cinema
$80,000.00
Compensation for injuries resulting from fall in bathroom caused by water left on floor. Claim denied before suit filed.
7. S.D. v. Bargain Store
$75,000.00
Compensation obtained after suit was filed. Client offered very little before suit was filed by Gary Bruce.
8. J.C. Service Station
$73,000.00
Plaintiff recovered for injuries to her ankle when she tripped and fell on a matt leading into the Service Center. Claim denied until suit filed.
9. A.A. v. Grocery Store
$50,000.00
Plaintiff recovered for injuries to her ankle caused a negligence operation of a floor cleaner by a grocery store employee.
10. S.B. v. Department Store
$48,000.00
Plaintiff recovered from injuries when she fell in a foreign substance on the floor near the restrooms.
Miscellaneous
1. C.C. v. Apartment Complex
$1,300,000.00
Jury returned verdict for Plaintiff as the result of libelous conduct of the defendant's in placing negative and false information on her credit history.
2. A.J. v. Owner of dog
$500,000.00
Plaintiff recovered $500,000.00 due to a dog bite injury where dog had escaped chain around a tree. Injuries resulting in plastic surgery on leg.
3. B.W. v. Insurance Company
$281,000.00
Plaintiff recovered $281,000.00 against Insurance Company for refusing to repair damage to her home in addition to amounts already offered which were required to replace her home. Claim was denied before litigation.
4. D.G. v. Insurance Company
$140,000.00
Plaintiff recovered against insurance company as a result of their failure to act in good faith in dealing with her property damage claim.
5. R.P. v. Insurance Company
$50,000.00
Recovered against long term disability insurance carrier. Plaintiff recovered long term disability insurance benefits which were denied to him.
6. L.S. v. Extermination Company
$45,000.00
Plaintiff recovered for property damage caused by negligent failure to properly treat her home for termites.
7. F.M. v. Transmission Company
$17,500.00
Verdict for Plaintiff in the amount of $17,500.00 for negligent repair of transmission and fraud.
***These represent just a few of the verdicts and settlements obtained by our firm for a more detailed discussion of our experience with a particular type of case, please schedule a meeting.
