Texas’ Supreme Court has overturned a jury verdict that awarded $90 million to a family who was injured after their F-150 truck crossed a median and hit an 18-wheeler.
In December 2014, Trey Salinas drove his pickup truck on I-20 near Odessa with Jennifer Blake and her three children in the vehicle. Icy conditions caused the vehicle to lose control, cross the median, and collide with a semi-truck from Werner Enterprises, Inc., according to court records.
The collision killed one of Blake’s children and severely injured the others. The Blake family sued Werner Enterprises and Shiraz Ali, who was driving the 18-wheeler.
A district court jury found Werner and Ali liable, appropriating liability as 70 percent to Werner employees other than Ali, 14 percent to Ali, and 16 percent to Salinas (with whom the Blakes settled before trial).
The Blake family was awarded nearly $90 million, with over $68 million awarded to daughter Brianna Blake, who was rendered a permanent quadriplegic.
Werner and Ali appealed to the 14th District Court of Appeals in Houston, where the case was argued before a three-justice panel. After the court of appeals affirmed the district court’s decision, Werner and Ali petitioned for review in the State Supreme Court.
