James V. Deegan Obtains Defense Verdict in Multiple-Vehicle Accident

In a matter tried before Justice Peter Sweeney in Supreme Court, Kings County, James Deegan obtained a unanimous defense verdict on behalf of Coach Bus and bus driver Mark Richards after a three-day trial. The incident occurred in the eastbound lanes of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Plaintiff claimed to have been rear-ended by the Coach bus while in the center lane, forcing plaintiff into a disabled vehicle partially blocking the right lane, which he would have avoided but for the impact from the bus. The bus driver claimed plaintiff was speeding and attempted to pass the bus on the right but struck the disabled vehicle that was obstructing a portion of the right lane, which forced plaintiff’s car into the bus.

Plaintiff, 32 years old at the time of the incident, claimed injuries to his shoulder requiring a right shoulder arthroscopy, an avulsion fracture to his right wrist, and lumbar and cervical herniations. Plaintiff had not worked since the day of the accident. Mr. Deegan successfully argued to the jury that plaintiff was the sole cause of the multiple-vehicle collision with his reckless attempt at passing the bus on the right while speeding, resulting in a defense verdict on liability at trial. An article describing the trial proceedings was printed in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and can be seen by clicking here.