$3.45 Million Federal District Court Settlement for Injured Family on Interstate

On Thursday, January 24, 2008, Federal District Court Judge Martin Ashman approved a settlement of $3.45 million for a family and passenger who were seriously injured when a truck rear-ended their car on Interstate 55. Robert J. Bingle, partner at Corboy & Demetrio, represented the family, along with James Behrens and Michael Schroeder of Behrens, Gioffre & Schroeder of Cleveland, Ohio.

On November 26, 2003, the Charvat family, which included Richard, the father, Kelly, the mother, and their three daughters, Elizabeth, 19 years-old, Michelle, 15 years-old, and Nicole, 17 years-old and cousin, Kyle Vogler, 11 years-old, was driving to Pekin, Illinois to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family. Due to an earlier crash on Interstate 55, they were stopped in traffic on the Interstate in Livingston County, Illinois. While stopped, a semi-truck driven by Steven Haggard and owned by the Transport Service Company of Illinois, rear-ended the Charvats' car. The truck was traveling at 57 miles per hour. All of the occupants sustained injuries, including fractured ribs, pelvises, clavicle, femur, ankle, jaw and teeth, and numerous lacerations requiring surgery and rehabilitation. The driver claimed that the sun was in his eyes and he thought the cars ahead of him were moving because he did not see brake lights or emergency flashers activated.

Bingle stated, "This settlement ends a long ordeal for this family. They are relieved to have this case resolved."