Jury awards $1 million to woman injured in crash with jackknifed semi-truck

CHICAGO (September 11, 2023) – A federal jury has awarded $1 million to a woman who was injured in a Livingston County car crash.

On March 24, 2018, Plaintiff Deanna Murphy, 54, was a passenger in the backseat of a Nissan Altima in the right lane of southbound I-55 during a snowstorm. While stopped for traffic ahead, the Nissan carrying Ms. Murphy was struck on the left rear corner by a J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. semi-truck which jackknifed.

Ms. Murphy was taken by ambulance to St. James Hospital in Pontiac, IL. where she was evaluated and discharged with diagnosis of shoulder contusion and muscle strain.  Three days after the crash, Ms. Murphy went to Glenbrook Hospital with complaints of headache and cervical/thoracic pain. As a result of her injuries, Ms. Murphy underwent various treatments, including injections and spinal cord stimulator.  While treatments reduced her pain and her migraines are controlled, Ms. Murphy must continue treatment for her migraines and maintenance of her spinal cord stimulator. Prior to the collision, Ms. Murphy had no history of migraines or neck/upper back pain, but has been on disability since 2015 due to effects of cancer/chemo.

On February 24, 2020, Ms. Murphy filed a lawsuit through her attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. against J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. (owner of the semi-truck and employer its driver) and Robert Ashley Taylor (its driver.) During trial, Plaintiff amended her complaint to name Defendant, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. only.

On January 14, 2022, Defendants admitted fault.  The case went to trial against J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. on August 17, 2023 in U.S. District Court – Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division before The Honorable Matthew F. Kennelly.

On August 23, 2023, a jury awarded Ms. Murphy $1,000,000 for damages stemming from her injuries.

“During trial, the defendants argued Deanna’s pain should have resolved in a matter of weeks and that the impact wasn’t hard enough to cause continued pain, meaning Deanna was faking or exaggerating.  We are pleased the jury recognized the pain Deanna has endured for the last 5 years and thankful she will be able to continue treatment as a result of the verdict,” Lead Plaintiff’s attorney Jennifer L. Ashley said.

Ms. Murphy was also represented by attorneys Rob L. Kohen and Michael J. Schostok of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.

The Defendants were represented by Thomas P. Burke and David J. Flynn of Querrey & Harrow.

For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.

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