PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Bethany Schneider, Partner, (404) 800-3060, be*****@sc*********************.com
TRIAL JUDGE DENIES DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL IN MONTAGUE V. HERRERA, SECURING $1.05 MILLION JUDGMENT FOR SCHNEIDER INJURY LAW
Fulton County Judge Fred Eady was unpersuaded by Defendant’s contentions that she did not receive a fair trial
Atlanta, Georgia, August 6, 2020: This week, on August 4, 2020, Schneider Injury Law, personal injury trial law firm, along with co-counsel Steven Newton, of Steven N. Newton, LLC, successfully obtained a post-trial win in Fulton County State Court.
In February 2020, Schneider Injury Law, along with Steven N. Newton, LLC, obtained a jury verdict of $1,051,800 in the motor vehicle collision case, which involved a permanent neck injury and surgery. Prior to trial, the defendant insurance company, State Farm, had only offered $20,000 of its $250,000 policy to settle the case and even rejected a policy limits offer of $250,000 from Plaintiff on the eve of trial.
On March 27, 2020, the defendant filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, for a new trial, raising 10 separate arguments in support of her motion. The Court held a hearing via Zoom on June 16, 2020. Bethany Schneider handled the briefing and oral argument. On August 4, 2020, the Court issued its Order denying Defendant’s motion. The Court refused to disturb the jury’s verdict or grant a new trial because the defense did not meet the high burden to show that the defendant was denied a fair trial or that the jury got it wrong.
Schneider Injury Law hopes that the Court’s decision will convince the defendant’s insurance company to resolve the case and not force Plaintiff to be subjected to a lengthy appeals process.
Bethany Schneider, of Schneider Injury Law, commented about the decision, “The Court’s well-reasoned, thoughtful order outlines perfectly why the defendant received a fair trial, and we hope that this Order will be the end of a long road towards justice for our client. At this point, Ms. Montague has already waited for six years to get her medical bills covered and receive some compensation for the difficulties she has had to go through. Her life was forever changed by this collision, and it is time for the defense insurance company to step up and try to make it right. We ask them to cease their delay tactics and bring peace to our client’s life.”
The parties are still waiting for a final decision from the Court as to the amount that will be added to the Judgment for attorney’s fees and case expenses, as Plaintiff beat her statutory offer of $199,999.99 by more than 25%. Plaintiff has requested nearly $400,000 in fees and expenses.