Articles

Auto Negligence

VICTIMS OF GARDEN STATE PARKWAY BUS CRASH SETTLE FOR $1.725 MILLION

A Marlboro widower was awarded $1.725M for damages in connection with a $15M global legal settlement paid to survivors and relatives of people who were killed when their casino-bound buss veered off the Garden State Parkway, rolling over as it slid down and embankment and crashed on Christmas Eve in 1998. Eight people were killed and fifteen were seriously injured in the crash, which was the work in the 57-year history of the Parkway.

Norm Hobbie and Dave Corrigan represented crash survivor LW, who was traveling that day with his wife of 46 years (S.W.) for a day of casino gambling. In addition to sustaining his own injuries in the crash, LW watched his wife die in his arms on the side of the highway.

In addition to claims against the driver, and the now defunct transportation company, the case was prosecuted against two midwestern companies that had legal responsibility for the bus, which was carrying 23 mostly elderly Brooklyn residents to Atlantic City.

LW received one of the larger settlement awards because Norm and Dave argued that in addition to his claims associated with his own personal injury and the loss of his spouse, he was also entitled to compensation for the emotional stress he suffered while witnessing the death of his lifelong partner.

The case took more than three years to settle due to complicated ownership questions about the bus, which was owned by Bruins Transportation who was going out of business at the time of the accident. The leasing company that held the title at the time was in the process of selling it to another company, but the transfer had not yet been fully completed.