by David M. Reutter

On May 20, 2021, a Florida jury awarded $1.4 million to Bradford County Jail guard Clinton Jenkins, 53. The jury’s award was based on its finding that the truck driver who crashed into Jenkin’s jail transport was negligent and liable for the crash and Jenkins’ significant injuries.

In 2015, Jenkins was a passenger in the transport van traveling on I-95 when a tractor trailer operated by Fu Lu Song veered out of its lane, causing the driver of an SUV to swerve and collide with the van. In the crash, Jenkins suffered back and neck injuries that required extensive care followed by radio frequency ablation. He was unable to return to his job, which paid approximately $30,000 annually.

Jenkins sued Song and his employer, American Trucking Co., alleging that Song’s failure to maintain the truck in its lane of travel made him liable for the crash. The suit also named the SUV driver, who settled Jenkins’ claims for $25,000 before trial. The jury then found Song was negligent and held him 100% responsible for Jenkins’ injuries.

With that the jury awarded Jenkins $194,480 for past lost earnings and $250,000 for loss of future earning capacity. He was also awarded past medical expenses of $58,146.02 and $300,000 for future medical expenses. Finally, jurors awarded him $150,000 for past suffering and $450,000 for future suffering.

That brought the total award to $1,402,626.02, which included fees and costs for Jenkins’ Jacksonville attorneys, Matthew Grossman and Wesley Ford of Farrah & Farrah. See: Jenkins v. Song, Fla. 4th Jud. Cir. (Duval Cty.), Case No. 2017-CA-3032.

Additional source: WJAX

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