Jerry Lee Holt, et alv. Anonymous Defendant, the City of Huntsville and Madison County.

Settlement of $750,000 (Madison County Circuit Court, 2009). Mr. Jerry Lee Holt was seriously injured in a vehicular accident when the Ford Explorer he was operating was hit by a utility truck driven by Darius Jones, a City of Huntsville employee. Mr. Jones had driven his bucket-truck partially off of the road, encountered a steep drop-off between the asphalt and the shoulder of the road, lost control of his truck and then shot over into the opposing lane of traffic, hitting Mr. Holt and his passenger. The Defendant had recently repaved that particular section of road, leaving a drop-off between the shoulder and the edge of the road. Madison County had overseen the work performed by the Defendant and authorized the Defendant to leave the job without repairing the shoulders or placing warning signs or cones. Recovery was obtained against Madison County, Shelby, the City of Huntsville and Jones.

Jane Doe v. Jefferson County Board of Education, et al.

Judgment of $3,000,000 (United States District Court for the Northern District of Birmingham, 2008). During 2004 and 2005, teacher Charles Andrews engaged in an inappropriate relationship with 8th grade female student Jane Doe. Andrews inappropriately touched, kissed, fondled and rubbed Jane Doe on school premises. He also sent her sexually explicit e-mails and notes. As a result of his conduct, Andrews was charged with first degree sexual abuse and eventually pled guilty to second degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to a twelve month suspended sentence and twenty-four months unsupervised probation. He also was required to relinquish his teaching Andrews. A Federal judge subsequently entered a three million dollar judgment against Andrews. The judgment consisted of $500,000 in compensatory damages and $2,500,000 in punitive damages.

Tawanna Brown v. Police Office

Settlement of $1,018,000.00 (Jefferson County, 2008). Tawanna Brown, a nineteen year old freshman in college, was walking across the intersection of 14th Street and University Boulevard in downtown Birmingham when she was hit from behind by a police officer who was speeding through the intersection at a high rate of speed without his emergency lights and siren activated. She suffered a closed head injury, liver laceration, pulmonary laceration, severe right pulmonary contusion, and multiple fractures involving both lower limbs, pelvis, and three ribs. The case was legally significant due to the defenses of sovereign immunity.

Anonymous v. Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, et al.

Settlement of $450,000 (Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, 2007). A mentally retarded resident of the Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was raped by another resident. The other resident had a history of sexually assaulting other residents. As a result of this history, an employee was required to constantly maintain one-on-one supervision of him. This was to include keeping eye contact at all times with him and also staying within arms length of him. As a direct result of a mental health worker failing to provide proper supervision and accountability of this other resident, anonymous was allowed to be sexually assaulted.

Anonymous v. Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, et al.

Settlement of $400,000 (Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, 2007). A mentally retarded resident of the Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was raped by another resident. A mental health worker was disciplined for neglect as a result of this incident for failing to provide appropriate care and supervision.

Walter Davis, Administrator of the Estate of Norris Davis, deceased v. Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, et al.

Settlement of $400,000 (Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, 2007). Norris Davis was a patient at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was attacked by another resident who should not have been on Mr. Davis’ unit. The attack caused head injuries that put Mr. Davis into a coma. He never regained consciousness and eventually died. Prior to the attack, hospital workers saw Mr. Davis’ attacker acting uncharacteristically aggressive and agitated. Despite this, the workers did not report the behavior of the other patient and Mr. Davis died as a result.

Estate of Clyde Knowles v. East Alabama Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board & Waverly House Group Home

Settlement of $300,000 (Lee County, 2005). Clyde Knowles' estate received a settlement of $300,000 after the Waverly House Group Home, an assisted residence home for the mentally ill, allowed Clyde to leave the facility undetected. Although Clyde was not a court-committed patient, his family was assured that he would be supervised at all times. On the evening before his disappearance, Clyde exhibited strange behavior that should have alerted the staff. The staff did not secure Clyde’s room nor did they contact his family. He escaped through a window early the next morning. His body was found several months later. His cause of death was undetermined.

Sue Ryan v. Hayes

Settlement of $1,106,141.50. (Circuit Court of Limestone County, 2002). Sue Ryan was assaulted and raped by an escaped convict from the Limestone Correctional Facility operated by the State of Alabama Department of Corrections. The inmate should never have been allowed to work on a chain gang due to his poor disciplinary record, but the prison reclassification officer failed to act on the inmate’s reclassification for more than thirty days - allowing the paperwork to sit on his desk. While out on a work detail, the inmate shook of his leg irons and escaped from the prison guard. Suit was brought against the leg iron manufacturer from Birmingham, England as well as the state prison officials responsible for the escape. The trial judge initially ruled that the case could not proceed due to existing Alabama law, but that ruling was appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. In this reported decision, the Alabama Supreme Court reversed the trial judge and allowed the case to proceed. The leg iron manufacturer initially settled and then the Alabama Department of Risk Management eventually paid the limits available to the plaintiff and certain others injured by the inmate, although none as badly as Mrs. Ryan.

Smith v. CSX Railroad and City of Lanett

Total settlement of $550,000 (Chambers County, 1995), $400,000 settlement with railroad and $150,000 verdict against the City of Lanett due to negligence in maintaining vegetation near a railroad crossing.

Tomlison v. City of Lanett

Verdict of $300,000 (Chambers County, 1995). Created new law in Alabama on loss of consortium and the $100,000 municipal cap. (Reported case) Defendant, City of Lanett, failed to replace a stop sign leading to a motor vehicle accident.

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