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$164M Awarded vs. Bridge Barricade Company For Boy's Car Crash Injuries

August 19, 2005

In the case of Patricia McKinney, individually and as next best friend and natural guardian of Jaro S. Hladik, a minor v. Bob's Barricades Inc., et al. (00-18471 CA 31, Fla. Cir., Miami-Dade Co., 11th Jud.), a jury handed down a verdict awarding the family of an injured boy nearly $164 million.

Jaro Hladik was walking his bike over a bridge in April 1999 after taking a 60-mile ride when he was hit by a car driven by Marie Delgado. At the time, he was a high school senior. Because the sidewalk on the bridge was closed for construction, he was walking in the emergency lane. He suffered severe injuries and was left in a coma for five months. He is now confined to a wheelchair and has the mind of a 7-year-old.

His mother, Patricia McKinney, sued the barricade company, Bob's Barricades Inc., the Florida Department of Transportation and the Redland Co., claiming that they should have provided a walkway on the bridge.

The defense argued that Marie Delgado was solely responsible because she was the driver and under the influence of cocaine and marijuana. Bob's Barricades did not agree to function as the worksite traffic supervisor or the responsible party for all traffic planning, initiation, installation and maintenance in Florida state road projects.

However, the jury apportioned liability to Bob's Barricades at 30 percent, Marie Delgado at 25 percent, Florida Department of Transportation at 20 percent and the Redland Co. at 25 percent. The $163,591,938.58 million plaintiff verdict was broken down into $1,391,938.58 for past medical expenses, $13 million for future medical expenses, $4.2 million for lost earning ability, $95 million for past and future pain and suffering and $50 million for Patricia McKinney's damages.