JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Six years after a DUI driver caused a crash on Interstate 95 that killed a JSO bailiff, a jury awarded her household $30 million in a civil lawsuit.
Kim Johnston was sentenced to fifteen years in jail in 2019 after she was convicted of DUI manslaughter and DUI leading to severe bodily harm. Now, she additionally has to pay $30.5 million to the household of Cathy Adams, who was killed within the crash.
Johnston was particularly named within the civil lawsuit, so she is solely accountable for paying the Adams household $30 million.
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Legal professional Ron Shoals represented the Adams household.
“It was a civil swimsuit for the wrongful demise of Cathy Adams along with the accidents to Jack Adams. He had some fairly devastating accidents,” Shoals stated.
In December 2018, Cathy, her husband Jack, and their two youngsters had been on I-95 driving again to Jacksonville from Orlando when their SUV was hit by a automotive pushed by Johnston. Cathy died. Her husband suffered a damaged spinal twine that left him quickly paralyzed, and their kids had been additionally injured.
Johnston was arrested on suspicion of DUI then later convicted and sentenced to jail for Cathy’s demise and the accidents she brought about to Cathy’s husband and youngsters.
And now six years later, Johnston is ordered to pay the Adams household $30.5 million.
Shoals stated this verdict sends a powerful message to folks concerning the penalties of driving drunk, particularly when drunk driving injures or kills somebody.
“It ought to, I imply this girl was 0.126 when her blood was drawn six hours after the crash. We had knowledgeable testimony that she was above a 0.20 on the time of the crash, virtually 3 times the authorized restrict. Actually, an accident on the lookout for a spot to occur,” Shoals stated.
For the reason that lawsuit particularly went after Johnston, the query now’s, can she afford to pay the $30 million? And if not, how will Cathy’s husband and youngsters ever obtain the total quantity?
“Excellent query, so the judgment is in the end towards the motive force, nonetheless, there are some plans in place. For my part, there have been some issues her insurance coverage firm did that had been completely fallacious in attempting to guard her curiosity and we’re going to carry them accountable for that.”
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This implies Johnston’s insurance coverage firm is doubtlessly the subsequent goal of a separate lawsuit that might require the corporate to pay all the $30.5 million.
A lawsuit towards Johnston’s insurance coverage firm may additionally require the corporate to pay the remaining steadiness after Johnston pays what she will.
For instance, if she may solely afford to pay $1 million, her insurance coverage firm may very well be on the hook for $29.5 million.
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