The Salem couple who sued a Corsica-based cheese company for damages incurred in a 2014 crash were awarded $423,870.57 by a jury on Thursday.
Kevin and Betty Peterson, who were rear-ended in June 2014 by a truck driven by a Midwest Cheese, Inc. employee, received compensation for six areas of damages.
"We're pleased that they recognized the nature and extent of the Petersons' injuries and the permanency of those injuries, and we are thankful for the award that they gave as a result of that," said attorney Michael Tobin, who represented the Petersons.
Mark Arndt, the attorney who represented Midwest Cheese, Inc., said he was also satisfied with the settlement, as the amount awarded was close to a midpoint between what the Petersons were asking and what Midwest Cheese was offering in a 2016 attempt at a settlement.
For his past and future "pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life," Kevin Peterson received $125,000 each. He testified that he had sustained a shoulder injury in the crash and had developed other problems, such as vertigo, as a result. For his medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses, Kevin Peterson received an additional $136,113.06 and $6,005.83, respectively.
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Of the remaining settlement money, $6,751.68 went toward Betty Peterson's medical bills, and the other $25,000 was awarded for her past pain and suffering.
