$74 Million Jury Verdict in Negligent Resurfacing Project Caused Wrongful Death

Amy Skiba, 43, was driving with two children, both 12 years old, when an oncoming driver lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line, and struck Skiba’s vehicle head-on. Skiba suffered fatal injuries. She was survived by her husband and three children, one of whom is an adult.

Skiba’s adult child and representative for the two minor children sued Eaton Asphalt Paving Co., which completed a resurfacing project on the road approximately two months before this incident.

The Skiba family asserted that the defendant pavement company negligently performed the project by choosing not to mill the road and install a safety wedge as required by its contract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The defendant’s action raised the surface of the road and made the road edge drop higher, the plaintiff maintained. The lawsuit did not claim lost income.

The jury returned a verdict for $74 million for this tragic incident.

At trial, the Skiba family presented experts in accident reconstruction and toxicology.

The defendant presented experts in accident reconstruction and toxicology.

The attorneys representing the Skiba family were Ronald E. Johnson Jr. and Jay R. Vaughn.

Godwin v. Eaton Asphalt Paving Co., Nos. 19-Cl-00331, 19-Cl-00050 (Ky. Cir. Ct. Boone County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling road defect lawsuits, wrongful death cases, traumatic brain injury lawsuits, motorcycle accident cases, bicycle accident cases and truck accident lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 45 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Calumet City, Deerfield, Evanston, Flossmoor, Homewood, Kenilworth, Highland Park, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, New Lenox, Orland Park, Barrington, Chicago (Belmont Cragin, Rogers Park, North Lawndale, Austin, Near North Side, Old Town Triangle, River North, South Loop, South Shore, East Side, Jackson Park, Kenwood, Bronzeville), Crestwood, Forest Park and Park Ridge, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.

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