A Florida jury has awarded close to $900,000 to a woman who contended she had been injured in an automobile accident and sued her insurer for underinsured motorist benefits.
Facts and Allegations
Kari Maynor alleged that she was injured in a collision with a sport utility vehicle. After receiving $50,000 from the SUV driver's insurer, Ms. Maynor sued her own insurer, Geico General Insurance Company, for underinsured motorist benefits.
The case went to arbitration and the arbitrator awarded a sealed amount. Geico's counsel then requested a trial de novo. Defense counsel conceded that Ms. Maynor had not been negligent, and that injuries to her shoulder and wrist had been caused by the accident.
The defense, however, denied that the accident had caused injuries to Ms. Maynor's neck and back, as she alleged.
Result
The jury determined that Ms. Maynor's damages totaled $882,130, and it awarded her husband, $18,000 in damages for loss of services.
The case is Maynor v. Geico General Ins. Co., No. 15-CA-001265 (Fla. Lee Cty.Ct. May 17, 2018). Attorneys involved include: Preston J. Scheiner; Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured; Fort Myers, FL, for Kari T. Maynor, Tony L. Maynor Benjamin A.A. Russell; Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured; Fort Myers, FL, for Kari T. Maynor, Tony L. Maynor. Stefanie D. Capps; Kubicki Draper; Fort Myers, FL, for Geico General Insurance Co. Kristin L. Stocks; Kubicki Draper; Fort Myers, FL, for Geico General Insurance Co.
FC&S Legal Comment
This report is based on information that was provided by plaintiffs' and defense counsel. Additional information was gleaned from court documents.
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Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].