$20 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Caused by Negligence of Bus Driver

Hunter Brown, 25, was traveling to California on a Greyhound bus late at night. The bus stopped at a rest stop and Brown left the bus to use the facilities. When the bus driver, Arthur Coley, began to pull away from the rest stop before Brown had re-boarded, Brown tried to get his attention. The driver drove the bus forward and ran over Brown’s foot and back.

Brown died from his injuries. He was survived by his parents.

The Brown family individually and on behalf of his estate sued Greyhound Lines, alleging negligent hiring and training and vicarious liability. The Brown family asserted that the driver, Coley, chose not to take a headcount before leaving the stop in violation of company’s policy.

The Brown family also maintained that Coley had knowingly left another passenger at a rest stop just six months before Brown’s death. The lawsuit did not claim lost income.

The defense argued that Brown had metabolized heroin in his system at the time of his death that could somehow reduce damages or blame Brown for his death.

The jury signed a verdict for $20 million finding Brown 10% at fault.

At trial, the Brown family attorneys presented an expert in bus policy.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case for the Brown family were Charla Aldous, Brent Walker and Jane Paulson.

Becker v. Greyhound Lines, Inc., No. DC-17-16588 (Tex. Dist. Ct. Dallas County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death lawsuits, bus accident cases, rollover crash cases, truck accident lawsuits, car accident cases, nursing home negligence lawsuits and bicycle accident lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Midlothian, Calumet Park, Blue Island, Bedford Park, Forestview, Franklin Park, Schiller Park, Morton Grove, Glencoe, Northbrook, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Libertyville, North Chicago, Lake Bluff, Deerfield, Chicago (Jefferson Park, Irving Park, Mont Clare, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Little Village, McKinley Park, Back of the Yards, Rosemont, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Woodlawn, Wrigleyville, Kenwood, Hyde Park, Little Italy, Lincoln Park), Norridge, Harwood Heights, Elmwood Park, Oak Park, Berkeley and Hillside, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.