Jury returns $1 million verdict against trucking company, driver

A jury recently returned a $1 million verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against a Geneva County truck driver and a Texas-based trucking company in a crash that left a 79-year-old man dead.

The lawsuit was filed by Kenneth Watkins, the son of Joseph Watkins who died in the crash. Matt Glover, a lead attorney who represented Watkins, said a Conecuh County jury in Evergreen deliberated about four hours before returning its verdict last Thursday. The wrongful death lawsuit originally included Wal-Mart, but Glover said the jury only returned the verdict against Rowell Trucking, Samson resident Thomas Wayne Rowell and Greatwide Dedicated Transport.

The lawsuit stemmed from a fatal two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 84 and Conecuh County Road 15, just north of Mobile near Interstate 65. Glover said Rowell traveled west on U.S. 84 in an 18-wheeled truck when it crashed into Watkins, who was traveling in a car on the county road. Glover said the defendant claimed Watkins failed to yield right of way at a stop sign, while Glover said their expert showed the tractor trailer traveled more than 70 mph at the time of the crash. Glover said the truck driver traveled through the intersection in excess of a posted recommended speed of 45 mph, which included a yellow caution light.

“I think the jury suspected that it was a company trying to cover up information that could’ve proven our case for us,” Glover said. “I think what happened here is the company wasn’t necessarily trying to investigate the case. They were trying to build a case to protect themselves.”

Glover said he was not aware of any charges filed as a result of the traffic fatality. He also said Wal-Mart uses contract drivers to transport their products, and the primary company they use is Greatwide Dedicated Transport, which had a contract with Rowell.

Glover was one of several lawyers who represented Watkins.

Lawyers from the Carr Allison law firm out of Birmingham represented the trucking company and Rowell, but they did not return a message left by an Eagle reporter.