Wis. drunken driving crash victim awarded $3.14 million

A Chippewa County jury awarded an Eau Claire woman more than $3.1 million Thursday afternoon for her injuries and suffering after being struck by a drunken driver in December 2005.

[Golf Guy]

Hey, just a damn minute here, he was just reaching for some peanuts. You know how you get the munchies after getting drunk.

[Crabby Appleton]

About time juries started giving decent money to people with injuries. I worked in the court system and watched people hurt by drunks not even given enough to cover their medical bills. About time.

[huh]

hit ME I need the money!

[Curious]

It seems like a lot of money to be awarded. I'm sure it was a tough recovery, but I'm not seeing any statements about a permanent disability.

Plus, he doesn't have the cash to cover the settlement anyhow. No one wins.

[Pat from Blaine]

Hey Let this person recover all the money that she can. But how much for lost wages?

This is an example of a hell of an attorney doing their job.

I went thru a car accident a few years ago and I still have injuries. But having a deep tissue massage is way over board. Hey Lady joing the YMCA and start working out and strecht the muscles.

What a country!!

[Johnny Law]

Definately a lot of money. But she does have to walk with a cane and uses a shower chair the rest of her life... I could do that for 3 plus million.

[Someone who knows]

I am so happy for her! My family and I went through a crash very similar to this...I wish that we had taken ours as far as a jury trial! We were given a measly $10,000 for a family of 4. After the attorney took his share, we had a little over $6600...

Injuries sustained in our car wreck: 10 lost/broken teeth, bruised lungs, bruised heart, cracked ribs, one leg sliced open to the bone, brake pedal went through the foot, in hospital for 90 days and numerous surgeries. Feet are 2 different sizes and can't find a pair of shoes to fit properly...perforated intestines...head injuries on 3 out of 4 people in our car...

the drunk driver that hit us died...

I am so glad that justice was served for this woman...just wish that the State of Wisconsin would have done this for me instead of telling me to sell my home and my car to pay my bills!

[MN Observer]

Curious wrote:

It seems like a lot of money to be awarded. I'm sure it was a tough recovery, but I'm not seeing any statements about a permanent disability.
Plus, he doesn't have the cash to cover the settlement anyhow. No one wins.

Curious, you're either an idiot, you can't read, your reading comprehension skills are lacking or you have no compassion or all of the above. From the article: "Mayer has several chronic health problems. She walks with a cane, needs a deep tissue massage every other week and has been in physical therapy intermittently since the crash. She has equipment such as a shower chair and a high-rise toilet that allows her to live at home."

You don't walk with a cane, use a shower chair, and a toilet riser at age 51 without permanent disability.

[Pat from Blaine]

Someone who knows wrote:

I am so happy for her! My family and I went through a crash very similar to this...I wish that we had taken ours as far as a jury trial! We were given a measly $10,000 for a family of 4. After the attorney took his share, we had a little over $6600...
Injuries sustained in our car wreck: 10 lost/broken teeth, bruised lungs, bruised heart, cracked ribs, one leg sliced open to the bone, brake pedal went through the foot, in hospital for 90 days and numerous surgeries. Feet are 2 different sizes and can't find a pair of shoes to fit properly...perforated intestines...head injuries on 3 out of 4 people in our car...
the drunk driver that hit us died...
I am so glad that justice was served for this woman...just wish that the State of Wisconsin would have done this for me instead of telling me to sell my home and my car to pay my bills!

I do not want to sound like a non caring SOB but isn't Wisconsin a State that doesn't require a person to have auto insurance that would cove rthese accidents. This story is why I pay thru th enose to have alot of auto insurance. If something were to happen to me or a member of my family I do not want to go thru want you are going thru or the person in this story.

Also I am not an uncaring SOB as I went thru an accident that left me in a wheel chair for three months and I have injuries that will stay with me th erest of my life. I also have metal in parts of my body that forced some scans to pick up medal and subject me to additional searches.

I personally am happy that I am alive.

[Mpls]

I'm glad to finally see a drunk driver ordered to pay an extremely steep price via civil court. The criminal court punishment for this crime is WAY too lenient.

[josetxxx]

Not only does Wisconsin "NOT" require Auto insurance, it also has some of the most lax DUI laws in the country. It's nothing to see people with 8-10 DUI's walk away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

I work in a place that is full multiple DUI offenders. There are several that have 10, 12, 15 DUI's under their belts, they're still drinking and still drinking and driving. No drivers license and no insurance, but insurance would cut into their drinking money.

Another thing, Wisconsin does not require a drivers license to register a vehicle. Wisconsin is giving the drunk driver a free pass if you ask me.

Not only that there are habitual drunk drivers from other states moving to Wisconsin, because they know we have hardly any DUI laws. And they are running away from all of their DUI's and the law at home.

I'm glad the woman got the money, a little over due justice served.

But......I'm sure it would help greatly if Wisconsin had tougher DUI laws. Huge fines and mandatory prison sentences.

The habitual drunk driver knows nothing much is going to happen, so they keep on doing it.

Wake up Wisconsin!

[ishMN]

josetxxx wrote:

Not only does Wisconsin "NOT" require Auto insurance, it also has some of the most lax DUI laws in the country. It's nothing to see people with 8-10 DUI's walk away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
I work in a place that is full multiple DUI offenders. There are several that have 10, 12, 15 DUI's under their belts, they're still drinking and still drinking and driving. No drivers license and no insurance, but insurance would cut into their drinking money.
Another thing, Wisconsin does not require a drivers license to register a vehicle. Wisconsin is giving the drunk driver a free pass if you ask me.
Not only that there are habitual drunk drivers from other states moving to Wisconsin, because they know we have hardly any DUI laws. And they are running away from all of their DUI's and the law at home.
I'm glad the woman got the money, a little over due justice served.
But......I'm sure it would help greatly if Wisconsin had tougher DUI laws. Huge fines and mandatory prison sentences.
The habitual drunk driver knows nothing much is going to happen, so they keep on doing it.
Wake up Wisconsin!

Minnesota Man Gets 23rd DWI
Minnesota Man Charged with 23rd Drunk Driving Offense
Hennepin County, MN - A 41-year-old man named Raymond James Sherman has been charged with his 23rd alcohol-related driving offense in the Hennepin County District Court.
On June 24 Sherman appeared in court with a public defender. He faces several charges including the felony of first-degree driving while impaired, the felony of refusal to submit to a chemical test, and the misdemeanor of driving after cancellation of his drivers' license. With these charges Sherman may have to serve up to seven years in prison and be required to be supervised for five years after his release.
He is still in custody of Hennepin County jail with a $75,000 bail. He will appear in court July 22, and the trail will convene Aug. 17.
According to court records from last week, Sherman's automobile was spotted by a Minnesota state trooper. She saw Sherman cross the center line of Minnesota Highway 62 at approximately 3 am, and attempted to pull him over on the next exit ramp. Sherman, however, allegedly accelerated and reentered the highway again. Sherman continued to southbound Minnesota Highway 77, and the trooper, who was then joined by other law enforcement authorities, pursued the car until it reached the "stop sticks" that had been set up to force Sherman to stop his car in the town of Eagan.
According to court documents, the troopers found Sherman to be uncooperative as well as clearly smelling of alcohol. They located empty beer cans under the driver's seat, and one can filled with alcohol on the passenger seat.
Sherman had not possessed a valid driver's license since 1984, and despite that he has been tried 23 times for drunk driving, this case is the first in which he will be charged a felony. In the state of Minnesota, a DWI was a misdemeanor crime regardless of the number of an offender's convictions. The law changed in 2002, and now a felony DWI law ensures that repeat offenders are penalized.
June 30, 2004