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Litigation Funding Blog

Son and estate of police detective killed in a motor vehicle accident receives a $14 million settlement

February 26, 2021

On December 24, 2018, Louisville Metro Police Detective Deidre Mengedoht was killed in a car accident after a semi-truck crashed into her police vehicle. The officer was conducting a traffic stop when the crash occurred. The semi-truck also injured people in the pickup truck that was pulled over. 

Roger Burdette, the truck driver, was a Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) employee. At the time of the accident, he was in the course of his employment. MSD fired Burdette after the crash. 

Burdette was criminally charged with murder, four counts of wanton endangerment, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and failing to give the right of way to a stopped emergency vehicle. Toxicology reports showed that the semi-truck driver had hydrocodone in his system at the time of the accident.

Two legal claims were filed. One lawsuit was submitted on behalf of the officer’s estate. The other lawsuit was brought on behalf of the detective’s son. The suits were filed against the semi-truck driver and his employer, Burdette and MSD, respectively. 

Burdette was accused of negligence and MSD of failure to employ, supervise and train Burdette properly.

The case went to mediation, and the parties settled for $13.65 million. The estate was awarded $10 million. The detective’s son, who was nine years old at the time of the crash, was awarded $3.65 million.  

The four individuals in the pickup truck also filed a separate lawsuit for their injuries and emotional trauma.

Wrongful death lawsuits arise when a person dies due to another person’s wrongful act or negligent act. In Michigan, a personal representative brings the lawsuit in the name of the estate of the person who died from the accident. The lawsuit can seek to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

Non-economic losses include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. The economic losses include medical expenses and care, burial costs, and loss of future earnings.

Wrongful death lawsuits cost money to begin the litigation. As the lawsuit progresses, additional fees and costs arise. Additionally, lawsuits are time-consuming and complex; therefore, it is best to hire an attorney to handle the case. However, attorney’s fees and costs can also add to the financial weight of litigation. Although a lawsuit may be costly, a person should not forego legal action when their legal injury caused them to suffer financial and emotional damages. Litigation funding may be the solution to the financial hurdle of a lawsuit.

Legal funding provides monetary assistance to a third party to pay for a lawsuit’s fees and costs. The financing helps a plaintiff hire legal representation based on skill and experience without settling for an attorney based on the costs. Although the third-party financing company pays the money for the litigation, it does not control the lawsuit. The client still decides the direction of the case. 

Also, the attorney does not work for the financer; they work for the client. Because of attorney-client privilege, communications remain private, and the legal funding company does not have the right privileged information.

“Another benefit of litigation financing is that the client does not pay back the loan out-of-pocket. The loan company only gets money back if the borrower wins or settles the case,” says Daren Monroe. The loan’s risk rests with the funding company, which provides financial relief to the plaintiff.

To learn more, visit https://www.litigationfundingcorp.com/.

Parents of Man Hit and Killed by Bus Awarded Jury Verdict of $20 Million

February 2, 2021

On June 29, 2017, 25-year-old Hunter Brown was traveling on a Greyhound Bus Lines bus from Seattle, Washington to California. During the ride, the bus driver stopped at a rest stop in Center Point, Oregon. While attempting to get back on the bus, Brown was run over by the bus and killed.

Brown’s parents filed a lawsuit against Greyhound Bus Lines. The lawsuit alleged the driver failed to count his passengers before leaving the rest stop. As a result, he left Brown behind. Passengers stated that when Brown fell, he was running alongside the bus and knocking on the bus door. After falling, the driver made a turn and roller over Brown. During the trial, a bus industry expert testified that the accident and resulting death could have been prevented if the driver took a headcount of the passengers.

The jury found Greyhound Bus Lines negligent in Brown’s death. The verdict in favor of his parents was $20 million in damages. The jury verdict stated that had the driver followed company policies, the accident may have been avoided. 

Wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the wrongful act, neglect or fault of another party. A lawsuit for the injuries and resulting death can be filed on behalf of the deceased person’s estate. Michigan law also lists the persons that may be entitled to damages from the wrongful act and death. The individuals include the deceased’s spouse, children, parents and siblings. The lawsuit may seek damages for economic and noneconomic losses.

Economic losses include losses with a set monetary amount. They include medical expenses, medical care, lost wages and burial costs. Noneconomic losses suffered in a wrongful death action do not have set numerical values. Noneconomic losses include pain and suffering, mental anguish, mental distress, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and loss of parental care.

Although a person may have a wrongful death action, they may not be able to pay for a lawsuit. The costs of starting a lawsuit accrue quickly. Even if a person decides to file the lawsuit without an attorney, they will still have to pay the court fees and other costs. Litigation funding provides financial ease.

Litigation funding or legal funding provides third-party financing to a person or party who pays for litigation costs. This funding allows the borrower to have some financial relief. The third-party financing company absorbs the risk of lending the money because the money is returned if the borrower wins or settles the lawsuit. Additionally, the borrower always retains control of their suit. The lender is only the financer; it does not control the case or the attorney. 

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