A civil trial in McKean County Court in February involving a two-vehicle accident at U.S. Route 219 and Route 59, near Tack’s Inn, in July 2012 resulted in a million-dollar verdict for a Bradford couple.
Brett and Julie Hilliard had filed suit against Sean Yeo and Advanced Gas Engine Solutions Inc., and were represented by attorney Ethan Lyle of Olean, N.Y.
According to the complaint, at 6 a.m. July 27, 2012, a full-size pickup truck driven by Yeo and owned by Advanced Gas Engine Solutions was traveling east on Route 59, when it failed to stop at the flashing red light and stop sign at the intersection with U.S. Route 219. The truck entered into Route 219 into the path of a passenger car driven by Brett Hilliard, causing a collision.
Hilliard suffered a broken ankle and injuries to his neck and back, which have led to permanent pain, scarring, arthritis and limited motion, the suit alleged.
The case was tried before Judge Christopher Hauser in a five-day trial.
The jury found Yeo negligent and that his negligence caused harm to Hilliard, but also found Hilliard negligent as well, with a 20 percent negligence attributable to Hilliard and 80 percent to Yeo, the verdict slip read.
The jury awarded to Hilliard $170,450.10 in past medical expenses; $482,057 in future medical expenses; $44,200 in past economic loss; $123,228 in future economic loss; $25,000 for his disfigurement; and the remainder for incidental costs and loss of enjoyment of life, according to court records.
McKean County Clerk of Courts Laura Isadore said the verdict is believed to be the second largest in the county’s history.
The largest, she indicated, was $1.25 million as a result of a jury trial in November 2015 involving a vehicle accident as well. That case, Sandra Hodgins v. Dick T. Clarke, etc., stemmed from an accident in June 2008 when the plaintiff was backing her vehicle out of a junkyard onto the road and the defendant’s vehicle struck hers, court records indicate.
