Nathan A. Gross v. Andrew Coley, et al

Case Background

On August 8, 2020, Plaintiff Nathan A. Gross filed a car accident lawsuit in the Florida Circuit Court, Escambia County (Case number: 2022CA000192). Judge Jan Shackelford presided over this case.

Cause

On May 19, 2020, Nathan Gross, a 39-year-old maintenance electrician, was stopped in his vehicle on Pace Boulevard in Pensacola when Andrew Coley rear-ended him. As a result of the car accident, Gross suffered injuries to his neck and back. He filed a lawsuit against Andrew Coley, alleging negligence in operating a motor vehicle. Gross also named Rachel Coley, Andrew’s wife, in the lawsuit, claiming she was vicariously liable as the owner of the vehicle Andrew had been driving. While the defense admitted liability for the crash, the trial focused on causation and damages.

Injuries

Following the car accident, Nathan Gross sought medical treatment for neck and back pain. Doctors diagnosed him with severe stenosis at the L5-S1 segment of his lower back, which required lumbar fusion surgery. Ten months later, Gross underwent a second fusion surgery to treat severe stenosis at the L4-L5 segment. During this period, Gross received multiple rounds of injections and physical therapy. Initially, he reported headaches and neck pain after the car accident, but both symptoms subsided before the trial. However, Gross continued to experience long-term back pain. Medical records also indicated that he had severe stenosis at the L3-L4 spinal segment, making him a candidate for a third spinal fusion or a dorsal column stimulator.

Damages

Gross claimed significant medical expenses due to the car accident. The total cost of his medical treatment reached $593,702.86. In addition to these expenses, Gross sought compensation for future medical costs, past lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. His legal team argued that his injuries were permanent and would affect his ability to work in the future. This further justified his claims for both past and future damages.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Nathan A. Gross
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Keith W. Weidner | J. Phillip Warren | Shelby Savage
  • Defendant(s): Andrew Coley | Rachel Coley
    • Counsel for Defendants: Elizabeth Anne Parsons | Megan M. Hall

Claims

In his lawsuit, Gross sought compensation for both his past and future medical expenses. He also requested compensation for lost wages resulting from his inability to work after the car accident. Additionally, Gross sought damages for future lost earnings, which were impacted by his permanent injuries. The long-term pain and suffering caused by his severe back injuries, along with the possibility of additional surgeries, further affected his quality of life and career.

Defense

The defense argued that the car accident did not involve enough force to cause the injuries Nathan Gross claimed. They contended that the impact was not severe enough to result in the significant spinal lumbar injuries he reported. The defense also pointed out that no prior medical documentation supported the claim that the car accident caused these types of spinal injuries. They suggested that the injuries may have been pre-existing or could have resulted from other factors unrelated to the crash

Jury Verdict

On January 26, 2024, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Nathan Gross, awarding him a total of $5,700,766.22. The award included $593,702.86 for past medical costs, $642,724.36 for future medical costs, and $427,089 for past lost earnings. The jury also awarded Gross $2,037,250 for future lost earnings, $1,600,000 for future pain and suffering, and $400,000 for past pain and suffering.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com