Johnathan Wellman v. Thomas C. Anderson

  • Court:  Florida State, Duval County, Circuit Court
  • Case Number: 2020-CA-003383
  • Filed: June 11, 2020
  • Judges: Katie L Dearing
  • Case Type: Auto Negligence Case
  • Cause: Negligence

Parties Involved

  • Plaintiff(s):Jonathan Wellman
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Tara Beth Conner | Frank Fratello ,Jr| Corrina C Hunt | David Candido Thompson
    • Expert witness for Plaintiff(s): Gil Spruance | Mark Frisk,MD | Richard Boehme,M.D.

 

  • Defendant(s): Thomas C. Anderson
    • Counsel for Defendants: Michelle Leigh Smith| Elizabeth Holland Howanitz | Catherine Higgins Crawley | Law Office of Bradley D. Martin
    • Expert witness for Defendant(s): Matthew Lawson, M.D. | David Gushue, Ph.D. | Julianne Frain, Ph.D. | Matthew Berlet, M.D. | Nicole Bonaparte, CPC, CPC-I, CMRS |

Verdict Information

  • Verdict Date: April 25, 2024
  • Total damages awarded to Plaintiff: $616,000
    • Past medical expenses: $600,000.00
    • Future medical expenses: $6,000.00
    • Past non-economic damages: $10,000.00

 About the Case

Cause

In a devastating personal injury lawsuit filed in the district court, the plaintiff Johnathan Wellman alleges that the defendant, Thomas Craig Anderson, grossly neglected his duty to operate his vehicle with reasonable care, resulting in catastrophic bodily injuries. The negligent driving incident occurred on or around October 31, 2018, when Anderson recklessly operated his motor vehicle, breaching his legal duty of reasonable care owed to Wellman and other lawful motorists.

According to the personal injury complaint, Anderson’s negligent driving is evidenced by several glaring factors that demonstrated an obvious disregard for traffic safety laws and regulations. These include a complete failure to maintain proper control and command over the vehicle, operating at an excessive speed, failure to keep a proper lookout, and a blatant lack of attention to the safety of other persons and pedestrians while driving negligently. These negligent actions directly caused a violent collision with Wellman’s vehicle.

Injury:

As a direct result of Anderson’s reckless disregard for traffic laws and breach of duty to drive with reasonable care, Wellman sustained grievous and permanently disabling bodily injuries and catastrophic damages. The plaintiff suffered substantial and unremitting pain and suffering, mental anguish, and a complete loss of life’s enjoyment. Exorbitant hospitalization costs and overwhelming medical expenses accrued due to the negligent driving injuries. Wellman also experienced lost earnings, diminished property value, and asserts ongoing future economic and non-economic losses from this personal injury incident.

Damages

The Plaintiff demands judgment for compensatory damages, to be determined at trial, as well as recovery of all associated costs and fees. The Plaintiff further demands a trial before a jury of peers to fully and fairly adjudicate issues of liability, negligence, causation, and damages according to the presented facts and evidence.

Jury Verdict

The Duval County jury awarded Johnathan Wellman $600,000.00 for past medical expenses and $6,000.00 for future medical expenses. They also found that Plaintiff Jonathan Wellman sustained an injury that consists, in part, of a significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function. Additionally, they found evidence of significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement. Finally, they concluded that there is a permanent injury or a permanent aggravation of a preexisting condition within a reasonable degree of medical probability. Additionally, they awarded $10,000.00 for past non-economic damages.

Post trial

On May 9, 2024 in support of their motion for a new trial, Defendant Thomas Craig Anderson, actively moved for a fresh trial. They integrated arguments from pre-trial motions in limine. They also incorporated arguments presented before and during trial concerning expert testimony admission and jury instructions. Additionally, they addressed the exclusion of evidence regarding prior and subsequent accidents.

Court Documents: Available upon Request