Huie Secures Defense Verdict for Logging Company

The Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart defense team of Bart Cannon and Jim Shaw recently secured a defense verdict in favor of an Alabama based logging company and its owners after a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Autauga County, Alabama. The lawsuit stemmed from an automobile crash in Millbrook, Alabama.

The co-owner of the logging company was driving west in a tractor-trailer and the plaintiff was driving east in a Toyota Corolla. The collision occurred as the plaintiff attempted to turn left at the intersection of Alabama Highway 14 and Deatsville Highway.

The plaintiff alleged that the co-owner negligently caused the crash due to excessive weight or speed, driver inattention or improper lane change and that the logging company negligently entrusted the tractor-trailer to its co-owner. The logging company denied all allegations and obtained a dismissal of the negligent entrustment claim by summary judgment. The plaintiff’s negligence claim proceeded to trial. Both parties presented conflicting testimony and evidence regarding the accident sequence, the orientation of the vehicles at impact, and which party caused the accident.