Southeast Utility Hit with $3.6M Verdict in Collision Trial

A couple was awarded $3.6 million by a Gwinnett County, Ga. jury after a Georgia Power Company truck rear-ended their car.

On August 16, 2010 on Hamilton Mill Road in Gwinnett County, the car’s driver, Sandra Juarez stopped at a left hand turn while waiting for traffic to clear when a Georgia Power truck driven by Cassandra Kim struck the rear of Juarez’s Nissan Maxima. Juarez received $1.5 million in compensatory damages and Villacorta received $2.1 million. Kim, traveling at 40 mph prior to the accident was ticketed with following too closely, according to evidence introduced at trial and other court documents.

John Kraft, a Georgia Power spokesperson told Utility Fleet eNews in regards to the verdict, “We are currently evaluating the court’s decision and determining our next steps.”