May 27, 2012
On April 26, 2012, an Iberville Parish jury returned a verdict of $5.5 Million to a severely brain injured single mother and her three young children finding the placement of an 8’ x 16’ political sign near a heavily traveled intersection was the cause of a tragic two car collision. Justice for Anya Falcon and her children did not come easy. Lead counsel, Brent Frederick, said: “I could not be any more proud of our judicial system and the twelve jurors that we had in this case. Not only did they listen intently for every minute of a grueling and emotional two week trial, but they closely considered all of the evidence during seven hours of deliberation. As a result of this verdict, Anya and her children will not be left destitute. The family can rest easy knowing that justice has no doubt prevailed.”
Anya and her children’s lives forever changed during the pre-dawn hours of September 13, 2007. While on her way to daycare before work an enormous political billboard placed on the ground, too close to the intersecting roadway, blocked Anya’s vision of oncoming traffic, giving her a false sense of security to pull out. Moments later a truck slammed into Anya’s Honda Accord almost killing her instantly. Anya was thrown into her child’s lap, where she lay bleeding and convulsing until paramedics pried her from the wreckage. Anya will live with severe permanent brain damage and devastating physical injuries causing dependence on others for the remainder of her life. The jury placed responsibility for Anya’s injuries on the landowner, E.J. Gay & Planting & Manufacturing Co., for granting permission to place the sign in a dangerous location along with the sign’s owner, politician, Glenn Patrick, and the State of Louisiana for blocking the State’s right-of-way.
For more information:
Lead Trial Counsel
Brent P. Frederick
DODSON, HOOKS & FREDERICK, APLC
112 Founders Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
225-756-0222 (phone)
225-756-0025 (fax)
