Curry v Westerby, Circuit Court of Genesee County, Michigan, Case No. 95-39277-NI (2000) (Automobile Negligence)

Geoffrey Fieger won a verdict of $30 million in the case of Mary Curry, who was struck five years ago by a Ryder Truck while stopped for a passing presidential motorcade. One friend in the car with her during the accident died, and Curry was severely injured.

• Attorney Geoffrey N. Fieger

$30 million verdict – Coe v City of Dearborn, Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan, Case No. 03-306126-NI (2005) (Automobile Negligence)

Geoffrey Fieger won a $30 million jury verdict for the family of a 35-year-old man who died after a Dearborn parking meter attendant took the law into his own hands. Agron Seiko, 20, was given a Dearborn police car to drive during his shift as a meter maid on Feb. 17, 2003. While driving the car, Seiko heard over the radio that Dearborn police were pursuing a stolen vehicle several miles from where he was. Suddenly deciding to play cop, Seiko began racing through the city at speeds approaching 100 miles an hour to reach the scene of the crime. As he sped down Rotunda Drive around 4:30 p.m., carelessly plowing through red lights, Ford Motor Company employees were just leaving work. William Vesper Owen IV, 35, was among them. Working as a Ford computer engineer for many years, Owen was pulling out of the company’s parking lot on a green light. As he proceeded to make a left-hand turn on Rotunda, Seiko struck him at nearly 60 miles per hour. Owen died a slow, painful death. Seiko was convicted of negligent homicide after being charged with manslaughter. Geoffrey Fieger filed suit against the City of Dearborn in February 2003. The city’s insurer, AIG, refused to settle the case on the advice of its attorneys, who claimed that Michigan Appellate Courts would never allow the plaintiff’s verdict to stand. In July, the suit went before the Honorable Michael Callahan of the Wayne County Circuit Court. The 10-day trial ended July 28, when the jury announced its verdict of $25 million, though, with interest, it could increase to  $30 million. Fieger said it’s a shame that city residents will have to pay for the tragic accident out of their own pocket. “The taxpayers of the City of Dearborn should tar and feather AIG Insurance Company and its attorneys. Dearborn is insured in the amount of $12 million. The case could have been settled. Instead, after paying for its insurance, the taxpayers will be stuck with a $20 million excess verdict,” Fieger said. “It is shocking that this occurred, but it is the result of the insurance company’s belief that they own the Michigan Supreme Court.”

• Attorney Geoffrey N. Fieger