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Dangerous Highways
Girls family Wins $8.5 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death Case
October 24, 2007
A drunken driver and Pima County will have to pay a combined $8.5 million dollars to the family of a young girl killed in a crossing accident.
The settlement comes in the case of Ebonee Moody, who was 14-years-old when a vehicle driven by Mike Ellsworth Baker collided with her as she crossed the street with a friend. She died on August 1, 2004.
Soon after the tragic accident, Baker was found guilty of driving under the influence and sentenced to 11 years for manslaughter, a term he is currently serving. His blood alcohol levels at the time of the accident were found to be between 0.18 and 0.24 when the accident occurred.
The Moody family lawyer however claimed that Pine County was equally at fault in the accident due to dangerous highway conditions. The roadway conditions and visibility at the time of the accident were bad and there should have been additional signage and street lighting, they claimed. County attorneys refuted that claim, saying there was no evidence that Moody had any difficulty crossing the road that fateful day. They also pointed out that there were no similar accidents on that stretch of road in the preceding years. But on Friday the Pima County Superior Court jury delivered its verdict - $5 million in punitive damages and $4 million in compensatory damages. 13 percent of the compensatory damages were to be paid by the County with the remaining falling on Baker.
An accident can happen when you're least prepared. But that doesn't mean you're not eligible for some compensation after the event. If you've been involved in an accident or have lost a loved one in one, you might not even be aware that you're entitled to financial compensation. Consult the experienced California accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group to learn how to protect your rights.
