September 13, 2011
The Indiana Court of Appeals says it will not adjust the amount awarded to an Indianapolis, Indiana, car accident victim after an anonymous juror filed an affidavit saying that the jury made a huge miscalculation.
The appeals court ruled 3-0 in this LaPorte County case that the woman is only entitled to the $128,712 that was announced in court, as it was the figure on the jury’s verdict form and because no one objected when it was read aloud.
The Times reports that the jury had intended to award the victim $336,300 but instead gave only $207,600—a figure that was reduced to $128,712 because the jury determined that the victim was 38 percent at fault.
The juror, who believed that the reduced amount would be added to the $336K figure, said that the jury “had trouble trying to figure out the verdict form” and “completed it as best as we could.”
Judge Kathleen Lang reportedy stepped in in open court to help the jury figure the final total.
Do you think this Indiana auto accident victim should have been given additional award money after this error was discovered?
If you or someone you know has been involved in an Indiana auto accident, the Indiana auto accident lawyers at Stewart & Stewart Attorneys can help.