Injured Viet vet awarded $32M, Reports Newsday

Thursday, December 20, 2007

A Suffolk jury has awarded what attorneys called a county record $32.7 million in damages to a Vietnam War veteran from Mount Sinai who suffered serious brain damage when a drug-impaired driver plowed through a police barricade and hit him.

The jury awarded the money to James Dunne, 56, and his wife Carol on Wednesday night after a 2 1/2-week civil trial, according to court officials and Stephen Murphy of Manhattan, Dunne’s attorney.

Murphy, who had asked the jury for $35 million in damages, said he was not surprised by the award.

The Dunnes “deserve every nickel they can get,” Murphy said, adding, “It was a quick verdict so we didn’t know what to expect.”

Courtesy: Newsday