Jefferson County Jury Awards $3.25 Million in Vehicle Fire Case
Posted by
Jennifer MooreMarch 26, 2008 12:03 PMThe Courier-Journal reported that a Louisville jury awarded more than $3.25 million in damages to the family of a man who died from burns sustained in a vehicle fire. Attorneys at Grossman & Moore represented the family.
For more information about the jury verdict and the facts of the vehicle fire, read the story in the Louisville paper.
Bernard Mulligan was sitting in his 1995 Buick Riviera on Nov. 6, 2004, when the engine burst into flames, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in April 2006.
The jury on Thursday found Don's Auto Clinic and its owner, Samuel T. Barrett, negligent in repairing and inspecting Mulligan's vehicle. Mulligan, 67, twice had his vehicle towed to Don's because of overheating problems and a rebuilt engine was installed, according to attorneys for Mulligan's estate.
Two days later, the engine caught fire while the car was idling. It was unclear why Mulligan did not get out of the car, though he suffered from diabetes, according to his attorneys.
Mulligan suffered burns to more than 45 percent of his body and died three days later.