A jury has awarded a Walker man $15.5 million in damages for brain damage and other injuries he suffered when an 18-wheeler rear-ended his pickup.

The jury awarded another $1 million late Thursday to 29 year-old _______ parents, _______, for loss of consortium with their son after the Jan.4, 2000, accident.

“This is a horribly tragic case,” said Locke Meredith, one of the attorney’s for the family, which sued in state District Court in Baton Rouge. “These were devastating injuries. His life as an adult was terminated. He is like a child that will never grow up.”

_______ now has the mental capacity of an 8-year old, Meredith said. He also suffered paralysis of the right side of his body and injuries to the spine, eyes and shoulder and mouth, according to the plaintiffs.

The $15.5 million award covers future medical expenses and care, loss of enjoyment of life, physical disabilities, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering and other damages.

A hearing will be held to determine how much each of the defendants- Mike’s Trucking Co. of Grosse Tete, Star Insurance Co., Nutmeg Insurance Co., and Twin City Fire Insurance Co. – will pay, Meredith said.

The trucking company’s attorney, James Pate of Lafayette, did not return phone calls Friday for comment on whether the defense will appeal.

Before the trial began, Mike’s Trucking accepted complete responsibility for the accident, according to court records. The trial was held solely to determine damages in the case.

There was no testimony during the trial about what cause the accident, but it appears the truck driver, Dwight Daigle, was not paying attention, said Sean Fagan, another of _______ attorneys.

The plaintiffs claim the truck, which was carrying 28 tons of sand, had defective brakes and also contend the driver was speeding.

Daigle was charged with negligent injuring, driving without a license and careless operation.

According to court records, the injuring and careless operation charges were dismissed, and Daigle paid about $160 in fines and court costs for driving without a license.

Fagan said the accident occurred about 9 a.m. on La. 3034 while _______ was heading to his job at DEMCO. _______ had the left-turn signal light on and was waiting for traffic to clear when the 18-wheeler hit him from behind.

The crash catapulted the pickup into a patch of trees. _______ and a passenger in the pickup, _______, were injured.

_______ also sued Mike’s Trucking and the insurance companies, suffered multiple injuries in the accident, including brain damage, Meredith said. Meredith said the trial in that case is set for April.

The second man injured in a Jan.4, 2004, accident between a pickup and an 18 wheeler settled his lawsuit for $1.2 million against the trucking company and the insurance companies on Monday.

_________, 24, of Walker, agreed to settle his lawsuit against Mike’s Trucking Co., owner of the 18 wheeler, Locke Meredith, _________ attorney, said.

_________ was the passenger in the pickup struck from the rear by the 18 wheeler. He suffered multiple injuries, including brain damage, Meredith said.

The insurance companies are Star Insurance Co., Nutmeg Insurance Co., and Twin City Fire Insurance Co.

In late March, a jury awarded the pickup’s driver, _______, 29, of Walker, $15.5 million in damages for brain damage and other injuries. The jury awarded another $1 million to _______ parents, _______, for loss of consortium with their son after a trial in state District Court in Baton Rouge.

Meredith represents the _______.

The trucking company’s attorney, Jim Pate of Lafayette, confirmed the settlement terms Monday. Pate said the company, which he described as a “mom and pop operation” is no longer in business and exists in name only.

Pate said his client doesn’t have the money to cover the damage awards in connection with the accident.

A May 5 hearing will begin the process of determining how the damage awards will be paid by the trucking company and insurance companies involved in the lawsuits.

Before the trial began, Mike’s Trucking accepted complete responsibility for the accident, according to court records. The trial was held solely to determine damages.

There was no testimony during the trial about what caused the accident, but it appears that the truck driver, Dwight Daigle, was not paying attention, Sean Fagan, _______ attorney, has said.

The plaintiffs claim the truck, carrying 28 tons of sand, had defective brakes and also contend the driver was speeding.

Daigle was charged with negligent injuring, driving without a license and careless operation. According to court records, the negligent injuring and careless operation charges were dismissed, and Daigle paid about $160 in fines and court costs for driving without a license.

Fagan has said the accident occurred about 9 a.m. on La. 3034 while _______ was heading to his job at DEMCO. _______ had the left-turn signal light on and was waiting for traffic to clear when an 18 wheeler hit him from behind.

The crash catapulted the pickup into a patch of trees.

_______ suffered brain damage that has reduced his mental capacities to that of an 8-year-old, Meredith said. Court records also indicate that he suffered paralysis of the right side of his body, as well as injuries to his spine, eyes, shoulder and mouth.

Meredith said _______ suffered brain damage that has resulted in the memory loss and other neurological defects. Jackson also suffered injuries to his spine and shoulder, Meredith said.

“There were no blood clots in his brain like _______, But _______ injuries are still very disabling,” Meredith said.

Meredith and Pate said the parties agreed that reasonable damages in this case would be $1.2 million. Meredith said the judicial interest would add another $200,000 to that damage award.

BATON ROUGE- A jury has awarded $15.5 million in damages to a man who suffered brain damage and other injuries when an 18 wheeler rear-ended his pickup truck.

The jury awarded another $1 million to _______ parents, _______, for loss of consortium with their son after the Jan. 4, 2000, accident.

The $15.5 million award, issued late Thursday, covers _______ future medical expenses and care, loss of enjoyment of life, physical disabilities, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering and other damages.

A hearing will be held to determine how much each of the defendant’s – Mike’s Trucking Co. of Grosse Tete, Star Insurance Co., Nutmeg Insurance Co. and Twin City Fire Insurance Co. - will pay, an attorney for the plaintiffs said.

“This is a horribly tragic case,” said Locke Meredith, one of the attorneys for the _______ family, which sued in state District Court in Baton Rouge. “These were devastating injuries. His life as an adult was terminated. He is like a child that will never grow up.”

_______ now has the mental capacity of an 8-year-old, Meredith said. He also suffered paralysis of the right side of his body and injuries to his spine, eyes, shoulder and mouth, the plaintiffs said.