A Gregg County family won a staggering amount, of $2.3 million in damages for an accident that took place in February 2005 when their car had a head on collision with another car on West Marshall Avenue, Gregg County, Texas.
The family of Martha Hillin Wallace was awarded the large amount for the accident in which the jury found Jamie Lee Cocker, who drove the other car, 97 percent responsible and Mom's Biker Bar, where Coker allegedly drank alcohol hours before the accident, 3 percent responsible. Despite being charged with involuntary manslaughter and being summoned for court hearings in 2006, Coker never appeared for the trial and has not been apprehended either. His wife, who was a passenger in the car he was driving, was also killed in the crash.
Gregg County Judge, Alfonso Charles stated that this amount was the largest award in his courtroom since he took the bench in 2002.
The award is unusual as the defendant has been absent from both the criminal and civil proceedings of the case. There is no evidence of how much Coker drank at the bar or whether he consumed more alcohol after leaving the bar.
J. Ryan Fowler, who represented the Wallace family stated that they faced problems as they weren't allowed to tell the jury anything about Cocker's criminal conduct.
The bar's responsibility amounts to $60,000.
Hank Bauer, attorney for Mom's Biker Bar stated that they were not going to appeal the decision.
The family of Martha Hillin Wallace was awarded the large amount for the accident in which the jury found Jamie Lee Cocker, who drove the other car, 97 percent responsible and Mom's Biker Bar, where Coker allegedly drank alcohol hours before the accident, 3 percent responsible. Despite being charged with involuntary manslaughter and being summoned for court hearings in 2006, Coker never appeared for the trial and has not been apprehended either. His wife, who was a passenger in the car he was driving, was also killed in the crash.
Gregg County Judge, Alfonso Charles stated that this amount was the largest award in his courtroom since he took the bench in 2002.
The award is unusual as the defendant has been absent from both the criminal and civil proceedings of the case. There is no evidence of how much Coker drank at the bar or whether he consumed more alcohol after leaving the bar.
J. Ryan Fowler, who represented the Wallace family stated that they faced problems as they weren't allowed to tell the jury anything about Cocker's criminal conduct.
The bar's responsibility amounts to $60,000.
Hank Bauer, attorney for Mom's Biker Bar stated that they were not going to appeal the decision.
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