Workers' Compensation

Police Officer Injured During Chase - Closed Head Injury - Nursing Home - $3.2 Million Settlement

Type of action: Worker's compensation

Injuries Alleged: Closed head injury

Name of Case: Confidential

Court/Case: N.C. Industrial Commission

Tried Before: Mediation

Name of Judge: John Aldridge, Jr.

Verdict or Settlement: Settlement

Amount: Present value of $3,200,000

Date of Settlement: October 2003

Most helpful experts: Cynthia Wilhelm, life care planner

Insurance Carrier: Confidential

Attorney for Plaintiff: Joseph T. Edwards of Edwards and Edwards, L.L.P., Greenville; and William Joseph Austin Jr. and A. Charles Ellis of Ward and Smith, PA, New Bern

Person submitting report: Joseph T. Edwards

Description of case: Claimant, a former police officer, suffered a closed head injury in an automobile collision which occurred while claimant was in pursuit of suspects. Claimant was confined to a nursing home and sought more flexibility in his living arrangements and care. The settlement, which had a present value of $3.2 million, included a lump sum payment plus guaranteed payments of $13,363 per month for life.

» From the January 19, 2004 North Carolina Lawyers Weekly.

Note: Each individual case is unique with its own set of facts and complexities. These reported cases cannot be used as a basis for predicting results in future cases because each case must be evaluated and judged on its own particular set of facts and circumstances.