New Jersey Jury Awards Lundy Law Client $6 million Against the State of New Jersey

A New Jersey jury has awarded Lundy Law clients $6 million against the State of New Jersey for pain and suffering and economic damages suffered as the result of a falling tree limb. This is the largest jury award ever rendered in the county.

On July 4, 2006, the clients—a husband and wife—their daughter, and two friends were enjoying a Fourth of July ride on a scenic highway in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, when their vehicle was crushed by a massive tree limb that had broken off a tree abutting the roadway. The children in the backseat escaped uninjured due to the heroic efforts of the father/driver who held the roof up until they could escape the car. As a result of the accident, the husband and wife suffered broken necks and the husband suffered a crushed hand, head injuries, and has been unable to work.

The State denied liability claiming that it could not be responsible for patrolling all of the highways in New Jersey to determine if trees posed a dangerous condition. However, during the lawsuit Lundy Law conducted an extensive investigation and was able to obtain information from the state’s Department of Transportation that revealed evidence the State of New Jersey had been aware of falling tree limbs in the area and shockingly failed to correct the dangerous condition in spite of its own regulations to the contrary.