$1.1 Million Verdict Awarded for Wrongful Death Case

Scott B. Taylor and Matthew J. Bauer of Urban & Taylor, S.C. recently helped a grieving family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin receive well-deserved peace of mind as well as a $1.1 million verdict in a wrongful death car accident claim filed on behalf of their father, Edwin Thaves.

The accident happened on January 1, 2012 when a drunk 17-year-old driver sped through the St. Paul Ave. intersection and collided with a concrete island that launched the driver’s car into the air, over two eastbound lanes, and into the vehicle driven by Edwin Thaves. Thaves was 61 years old and a successful small business owner. He died immediately– after watching in horror as the defendant’s vehicle became airborne and hurtled toward him.

There was nothing he could do to avoid the accident. His wife, 53-year-old Jean Thaves, was seated in the passenger seat beside him and also died upon impact. Edwin’s children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the insurance company who held Thaves’ policy with the assistance of Scott Taylor and Matthew Bauer of Urban & Taylor, S.C. The case was taken to trial before a jury.

The jury awarded the Thaves family a verdict of $1,126,000. The verdict covers loss of society and companionship costs, Edwin’s pre-death pain and suffering, and significant loss of inheritance costs.

Regarding the verdict and the case, Attorney Scott B. Taylor had this to say:

“I spent my 50th birthday completing my prep for a two-week trial for some very deserving clients that lost their father to an awful auto accident on New Year’s Day 2012. The driver that killed their father was drunk. Of course, nothing will bring back their father, but sometimes we can achieve a bit of justice by making sure that your own insurance company lives up to its promise if something this bad happens.

Sometimes a jury has to tell the insurance company they were wrong. The verdict in this case of almost $1.2 million sends that message loud and clear. As I celebrate my 50th, I also celebrate the life of a good man who was lost too soon – Edwin Thaves.”