LITTLE ROCK — A Pulaski County jury has awarded a 53-year-old Little Rock motorcyclist a $224,000 judgment against Little Rock over an April 2007 collision with a city garbage truck.
James Lee Elliott Jr. accrued $48,000 in medical bills for his severely fractured left leg from the collision near Base Line Road and Arch Street five days before his 50th birthday. He had to have surgery to implant a rod in his leg, his attorney, Hugh Crisp, said.
Monday’s verdict before Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mary McGowan came after about 70 minutes of jury deliberation, with a 10-member majority of the 12-person jury ruling in Elliott’s favor for his injuries, missed work and pain and suffering, Crisp said.
Elliott was southbound onArch Street, Crisp said, when the truck, southbound in the adjacent lane, moved into his lane, its right rear tires catching Elliott’s leg, he said.
“It spun him right off his motorcycle,” Crisp said.
Elliott is glad to be alive after the crash and hasn’t given up riding motorcycles, his preferred means of transportation for more than 30 years, Crisp said. He said the city maintained that Elliott disregarded a yield sign at the intersection and pulled in front of the truck, which was driven by Stephen C. Adkins. But the jury sided with Elliott.
“It was his word against two city employees’ word,” Crisp said.
Elliott was ticketed over the failure-to-yield allegation, but was acquitted in traffic court, court records show. He filed suit in February 2008.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 07/23/2010