After a hotly disputed liability and damage trial, a Hillsborough County jury entered a defense verdict for Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (“Coke Florida”) and its driver in Vance Campbell v. Coke Florida, et al.  The RumbergerKirk trial team included partner Rob Blank, associate Madison Miller and paralegal Susan McClugage.

Plaintiff claimed the Coke Florida tractor-trailer violated his right of way proceeding to an intersection, causing an accident resulting in a lumbar discectomy and the need for future lumbar and cervical fusions and asked the jury to award just under a million dollars in damages. The RumbergerKirk trial team argued that Plaintiff caused the accident by failing to pay proper attention while driving with a clear and unobstructed view of the tractor-trailer as it properly entered the left turning lane, and that Plaintiff’s injuries were not caused by the accident.

The jury found there was no negligence on the part of the Coke Florida driver that caused Plaintiff’s damages. Defendants will move for their attorneys’ fees based on Plaintiff’s rejection of their Proposal for Settlement.  This is Coke Florida’s third defense verdict in the last year.