Utah Attorney Obtains Favorable Defense Verdict in Park City

Salt Lake City attorney Thomas J. Rollins represented our construction company client and their semi-truck and trailer driver in a three-day trial in the Third Judicial District, Summit County. Plaintiff is the surviving spouse of one of two decedents who died when their vehicle rear-ended our client’s semi-truck and trailer. Our client’s driver was traveling at less than half the speed of the passenger vehicle in the right lane on an interstate while ascending a steep grade.

Tom asserted, among other things, that the driver of the vehicle caused the accident, and our client was not negligent in the operation of the semi-truck and trailer. Plaintiff settled their lawsuit with the driver of the vehicle before trial. However, Plaintiff’s case against our construction company client and driver continued into a three-day trial.

During closing arguments, Plaintiff’s counsel included a thorough list of demands and asserted lost earnings, lost household services and funeral expenses, among other general damages, totaling $1.5 million, and asked the jury to award significant damages for loss of consortium.

A defense of pure comparative fault was not available, as Plaintiff’s case was as the passenger’s spouse, not the driver. The jury found no fault in our client’s operation of the semi-truck and trailer, and did not have to reach the issue of causation. The jury returned a full defense verdict.

Tom focuses his practice on the defense of individuals and entities in personal injury, construction defect and malpractice matters, and participates in every aspect of litigation.