Date: 08-23-2001

Case Style: Thomas Duty v. Pritchett Trucking and Connecticutt Casualty

Case Number: CJ-2000-128

Judge: David Nelson

Court: District Court, Wagoner County, Oklahoma

Plaintiff's Attorney: Greg A. Farrar of Farrar & Farrar, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Defendant's Attorney: Jon A. Starr of Atkinson, Haskins, Nellis, Holeman, Phipps, Brittingham & Gladd, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Description: Automobile truck accident - Tractor trailer attempted to turn left from a construction site onto the highway into the traffic lane of the plaintiff. Plaintiff sustained a traumatic amputation of all of his fingers except his thumb on his non-dominate left hand.

Defendants claimed that Plaintiff should have been able to avoid the collision by stopping in the clear assured distance ahead. Plaintiff also attempted to prove that Plaintiff was intoxicated.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $900,000 with a finding that the plaintiff was 45% at fault.

Plaintiff's Experts: Dr. Archibald Miller, plastic surgeon (treating); Dr. Joey Manduano, general, plastic surgeon and hand surgeon; and Dr. Joseph Fritsch, Tulsa, Oklahoma, clinical psychologist

Defendant's Experts: Harold Miller, Ph.D., Dallas, Texas, toxicologist and Jimmy Jackson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, accident reconstructionist

Comments: Defendants offered plaintiff nothing before the trial of the case. It is not known what the demand before trial by the plaintiff might have been.