New Trial Ordered in Fatal Accident Lawsuit
New Trial Ordered in Fatal Accident Lawsuit Save Email Print
Posted: 10:43 PM Jun 26, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:24 AM Jun 27, 2008
 Reporter: Joe Brown
Email Address: brown@kbtx.com
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There will be a new trial in the lawsuit over a deadly Highway 6 accident. Judge Robert Stem has set aside the Robertson County jury's multi-million dollar verdict.

Judge Stem granted the motion for a new trial Wednesday after objections were raised by the families of the four killed in the accident. Despite being awarded $3 million last month, they claimed the jury failed to provide damages for their non-economic losses of companionship and value to society. No date has been set for the new trial.
A trial date has not been set.

The families sued three construction companies following the 2006 accident in South Brazos County. Three local teens and a Deer Park man died when a dump truck slammed into the back of a line of cars.
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Posted by: Commentator Location: Brazos Valley on Aug 2, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Right! 3 million dollars sounds like lots of money. Much to learn when you get involved with the judicial system. The most money from the beginning influences the outcome. Prior planning, taking necessary precautions before construction began was needed. "They" didn't determine safety precautions required for everyone, the workers nor the drivers. Innocent children on that road had the right to be there and the right to a safe road, not a construction site where planners didn't think safety first. Innocent children trying to do something to make their families and their communities proud of them. Countless, young, Black children walk the streets every day with no direction;no interest in any thing, not even themselves. The young lady, Sarah Alexander, dreamed to go back to Neal Elementary to teach right in her neighborhood. What a painful loss of 3 Black college students from Bryan/College Station. All potential leaders. Think about it!!! Yes, compensate these families.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Bryan Location on Jun 30, 2008 at 12:42 PM
To anonymous, as posted before,everyone of us have our own opinion about anything, so take the chip off your shoulder and stop wishing bad things to happen to someone else, where is your christianity? you can not fool God. that you think in your heart that you will do.don't hope bad things on someone else. you are in my Prayers for God to give you peace and remove anger. no amount of money will erase that,only peace from God will remove the hurt and anger.
Posted by: Anonymous101 on Jun 30, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I think that everyone needs to stop & take a deep breath & really think about the hatred and hurt for a minute. As someone who has lost a loved one, there is no amount of money that will bring your "baby" back to you. You must learn to go one and accept that your "baby" is sitting on your shoulder guiding you in the right direction. Do you honestly think that they would like you all to argue about the money that will be received. Can you actually put a price on a child's head and not have a heavy heart afterward??!! May God Bless Each & Everyone One of You All - losing a loved one is horrible, but when you look up to the heavens, you see the happiness they now have !!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM
To Relative, and anyone else that need to mind their business. sound like you are upset about something more. again none of you are where those families are. I hate to say this but I guess I will anyway. I hope that shirt or shoe fits you some day.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 30, 2008 at 09:52 AM
To Friend, please look at May 16th article to see that all involved in the lawsuit were awarded damages, considerably generous ones at that. No money can replace those who were lost. As someone who survived an accident that killed my love ones, going after the money may seem like the right thing at the time, and you should be compensated, but when the lawsuit is over and the check has been cashed, where does that leave you?
Posted by: VW Location: College Station on Jun 30, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Anon, try practicing what you preach. King Family, I'm one of your neighbors, and our family is behind you 100%. Only God knows the full extent of the community's loss when He took your amazing son Home. "Anonymous" said it all: hope to God none of you fine judges of character are EVER found in the same circumstances! Not that ANY of you could possibly produce a kid as incredible as Ed King.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: college station on Jun 28, 2008 at 11:15 PM
to friend location; how much do you think those people should pay? the paper stated that they awarded you all 3 million dollar to all of you,not just the lady who lost her husband.my advice is to take what they offer you, they might refuse to pay any $$
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 28, 2008 at 03:20 PM
i think you all need to think about what you are saying if the dumb driver in the end dump had used common sense on a busy friday he would have made a safe left turn he is really to blame not anybody else and to think him aba his company went free and paid NOTHING AINT THAT A SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Christian Location: Bryan on Jun 28, 2008 at 09:53 AM
To Friend's comments,i would like to let you know these are just comments and other people's opinion of the situation,you need to know that all goes around comes around. just afew weeks ago you guys were bashing the shiloh pastor, now just afew days later you find yourselves kind of in the same defensive situation, we have to be so very careful how we treat each other.my prayers are with your family and the Rev. Erskine's family. God bless you all.
Posted by: Friend Location: College Station on Jun 27, 2008 at 04:50 PM
People need to understand that the families of the kids did not received any of the $3 million. The only person who received the money was the widow of the Dump truck driver. Please make sure you know all the facts before you say they are greedy! Because they are NOT!
Posted by: former juror Location: franklin on Jun 27, 2008 at 01:44 PM
First let me say to the families, I am truely sorry for your loss and I have spent many hours crying and many nights without sleep during and after this case. I hope that some day you all find peace. However, I am very appalled that all of the time and effort put into this trial and not to mention all of the tax payers money has been wasted. I really feel let down by the system. I know that everyone of the jurors on this trial took their responsibilty very serious and each one dealt with all of the emotions that came with this trial. I went home each evening cried and held on to my children tighter than usual. I don't know how many times we heard "its not about the money" from lawyers during this trial. Now I am begining to wonder! May God be with everyone during the next trial!
Posted by: Relative Location: Bryan on Jun 27, 2008 at 12:50 PM
why would you want to put yourself through all this pain again, does a lot of money mean that much? nothing is going to bring your daughter back, why didn't you take the first offer? you will never get any more, if you get that much.don't you all know if they don't want to pay anymore , they will file bankrupt, or put it off for ten years or more and you will be too old and senile to care.get what you all were offered and move on with your lives.
Posted by: Anon on Jun 27, 2008 at 12:48 PM
to annonymous, this is an opinion board if you dont like the opinions then YOU stay away.
Posted by: Larry Location: Bryan on Jun 27, 2008 at 11:18 AM
If the turning vehicle was turning into a private residence (they are out there), would the resident be sued like this? I think not. This is about greedy lawyers preying on grieving families!!
Posted by: Kyle Location: Bryan on Jun 27, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Right decision, wrong reason. It's all about greed now and people exploiting the deaths of their loved ones for money.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 27, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Let me say one thing to all of the people making statements about greed and whatever... You don't know what the ---- you're talking about and you need to get you some business and stay out of those families business. I sure hope that you are never placed in their shoes. My prayers are with those families that suffered a great loss. And the companies that were (are) involve know fully well that they are responsible and they need to own up to it. God Bless You All
Posted by: greedy Location: the bank on Jun 27, 2008 at 08:49 AM
this is sad. come on, like the money is going to compensate you for your "companion loss?" if you sue, you sue in hopes that things like this will never happen to anyone else. if you re-sue, it's just greediness. plain and simple. sorry, but that's my opinion.
Posted by: What? Location: College Station on Jun 27, 2008 at 08:33 AM
What? They were awarded $3 million before and now that's not enough? Guess they did the math and after deducting the attorney fees, divided by 4, didn't amount to enough? What's wrong with the world - you throw your hat in the ring, don't like what you get and go back and ask for "do-overs". Greed is what it sounds like to me. I hope they get even LESS the next time - will serve them all right - and keep in mind that the attorney will get paid for TWO trials.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 27, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Wow, someone is greedy! Will they risk having it all taken away? You can't bring a life back, but gosh you won the trial, move on and forgive.
Posted by: Nobody Location: Bryan on Jun 27, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Oh good. Now, we'll RE-TRY the people who were not at fault for even more money, since the guy who was at fault has none to pay.
Posted by: Bob Location: CS on Jun 27, 2008 at 06:06 AM
Sick...its all about the money....sick
Posted by: someone Location: bryan on Jun 27, 2008 at 12:13 AM
I hope that derek has to go back into court to .. He said he wasnt going to pay a dime that he would file for bankruptcy!! I think those family should make them pay more! 3 mil. isnt anough
Posted by: anonymous Location: bryan on Jun 26, 2008 at 11:13 PM
this is indeed a sad situation.i don't know if anybody is at fault,cause i don't know the details. no amt.of money will make up for the loss of these peoples' lives.we just all need to be prayerful,and alert when on the road.i wish the families peace,and comfort.losing a loved one is never easy,but God knows what you're going thru.HE allowed his only begotten son to die for us,so if anybody can comfort you, HE can.HE knows just how sorrow feels.
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