Because personal injury cases can be some of the most devastating, the settlement amounts offered are often among the largest for damages and loss. Cases that involve permanent injuries like brain damage, spinal cord damage, or burns are serious and cause intense suffering and pain, and often end in wrongful death. While large settlements can’t take away this pain, they can help pay for medical bills, legal fees, and other expenses that the injured may have accrued throughout the injury and legal processes.
The following list reveals the top personal injury settlements across the country in 2011.
1. $150 billion for Wrongful Death – Middleton v. Collins (Texas)
This settlement is rumored to be the largest in United States history, given to the estate of Robbie Middleton, who was viciously attacked and burned alive in 1998, when he was 8 years old. Middleton eventually died of complications with skin grafts. The jury decision was handed down on December 21, 2011, and was awarded to his parents, Colleen and Bobby Ray Middleton.
2. $1.5 billion for Toxic Torts – Allison, et al. v. Exxon Mobil Corp, et al. (Maryland)
This settlement, handed down on July 1, 2011, required oil mogul Exxon Mobil to pay far more in damages than what was required after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill damages. This case awards damages to victims of a 2006 gas station fuel leak, which spilled for 37 days into local groundwater, allegedly polluting public wells and drinking water.
ExxonMobil has since appealed the settlement.
3. $350 million for Toxic Torts – Heilig v. Fluor Corp., et al. (Missouri)
A group of 16 residents of Herculaneum, MO, sued Fluor Corp. after suffering injuries from exposure to lead, which is a result of the company’s lead smelting operations. The verdict and settlement amount was handed down in July 2011, accounting for punitive damages.
4. $320 million for Product Liability – Brown v. Chevron Phillips Chemical and Union Carbide (Mississippi)
This case, which began in 2006, is considered the largest asbestos-related settlement to a single plaintiff in U.S. history. Thomas Brown, Jr. worked in oil fields for over five years, where he claims he was exposed to asbestos. He was later diagnosed with asbestosis, which requires him to take oxygen 24/7 due to the lung disease.
Just after the New Year in 2012, the courts decided to vacate the jury award after Union Carbide reported a conflict of interest with the presiding judge.
5. $200 million for Product Liability – Ray v. Allergan Inc. (Virginia)
Allergan, the leading manufacturer of Botox, was required to pay Douglas M. Ray a huge settlement for pain and suffering in conjunction with Botox treatments he received for hand tremors. Ray claims that his treatments caused an autoimmune disorder and permanent brain damage. The court found that Allergan did not place sufficient warning on their product and handed down the settlement verdict on April 28, 2011.
Your Personal Injury Claim
While no two cases (or their settlements) are ever the same, the Arlington injury attorneys at the Law Offices of David Kohm work hard to fight for justice for each of their clients. Their background in personal injury law has led them to successes in several important legal battles throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the state of Texas.
If you or someone you know has recently faced a serious, life-threatening injury because of the negligence of another person or persons, contact the Law Offices of David Kohm today. We’ll review your case absolutely free. Call 817-204-0900.
