Alabama Civil Trial Reporter

Morgan County 2023

(28) ANTHONY LYNN BEARDEN, JR. vs. FLOYD DANIEL YOUNG

County/Docket #/Judge: Morgan / 52-CV-2020-900029 / Charles B. Elliott

Plaintiff(s) Attorney(s): Brandon T. Bishop and Andrew Moak of Shunnarah Injury Lawyers, P.C., Birmingham, AL

Defendant(s) Attorney(s): Ronald J. Gault of Gaines, Gault, et al., Birmingham, AL

Age/Sex/Occupation Of Plaintiff: n/a / M / n/a

Cause Of Injury: Negligence/Motor Vehicle Collision/Vehicle Strikes Pedestrian on Shoulder of Road. . On Jan. 16, 2020, plaintiff Anthony Lynn Bearden, Jr., filed suit against defendant Floyd Daniel Young. He alleged that at about 8:23 p.m. on July 31, 2019, he was walking on the shoulder of Turney Road in rural Morgan County. The area was residential and the road was lined with homes. Defendant, who was operating a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was distracted and was traveling at a speed that was excessive for the character and nature of the road. He struck plaintiff, causing plaintiff to suffer a frontal lobe traumatic brain injury, a right orbital skull fracture, a left temporal skull fracture with associated lob traumatic brain injury, a basal skull fracture with associated traumatic brain injury, and widespread subarachnoid hemorrhaging; a fractured clavicle and right shoulder; a fractured right femur; a fractured left ankle; and a lacerated carotid artery. As a result, plaintiff was currently confined to a wheelchair, although he was attempting to learn how to walk with an assistive device. He brought claims for negligence and wantonness. Defendant denied the allegations.

Nature Of Injury: Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries; fractured clavicle and right shoulder; fractured right femur; fractured left ankle; lacerated carotid artery; lost earnings; pain and suffering.

Expert Witnesses:

Verdict Verdict: $25,000,000 for Plaintiff on May 13, 2022.

Judgment: $25,000,000 for Plaintiff on May 16, 2022.

Editor’s Note: On Aug. 2, 2022, the court denied defendant’s motion for judgment as a matter of law or, in the alternative, for new trial or remittitur. Defendant appealed. The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed on July 7, 2023, and denied an application for rehearing on Sept. 8, 2023.