Attorneys from Hermes Sargent Bates, the eighth fastest growing law firm in Texas, announce a successful verdict in a wrongful death / survivor case with more than $2 million in medical expenses in the 276th District Court in Titus County, Texas. On December 15, 2006, the jury returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Midwest Coast Transport, Inc., Elm Creek, Nebraska-based Dave Rayburn Trucking, Inc. and the driver Michael Splitter.

(PRWEB) December 27, 2006 -- Attorneys from Hermes Sargent Bates, the eighth fastest growing law firm in Texas, announce a successful verdict in a wrongful death / survivor case with more than $2 million in medical expenses in the 276th District Court in Titus County, Texas. On December 15, 2006, the jury returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Midwest Coast Transport, Inc., Elm Creek, Nebraska-based Dave Rayburn Trucking, Inc. and the driver Michael Splitter.

Family members of the deceased driver sued the defendants, alleging negligence, and that Splitter was negligent and caused the accident resulting in the death of their relative and another passenger. As damages, they sought more than $2 million in medical expenses incurred during the four months the relative lived after the incident along with mental anguish. The accident occurred on December 1, 2001, eastbound on Interstate 30 in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The plaintiff attempted to make a U-turn on the interstate when his car was hit by the tractor-trailer driven by Michael Splitter. Attorneys for Hermes Sargent Bates argued the driver was negligent because it is illegal to make a U-turn on the interstate.

The judgment most likely went in favor of the defense because of expert testimony, and a local Department of Public Safety officer's report that stated the driver illegally made the U-turn, causing the accident with Splitter. The jury came back from deliberations in less than one hour with an 11-to-one complete defense verdict.

HSB Name Partner David Sargent and Founding Partner Michael Hurst represented Midwest Coast Transport, Inc., Dave Rayburn Trucking, Inc. and the driver, Michael Splitter, in court. Together, Mr. Sargent and Mr. Hurst have more than 30 years of transportation industry experience. HSB has one of the largest transportation practice areas in Texas.

Case # and information: Peacock v. Midwest Coast Transport, Inc., Dave Rayburn Trucking, Inc. and Mike Splitter., No. 29689.

About Hermes Sargent Bates:
Hermes Sargent Bates is a full-service law firm that works with a wide array of local, national, and international clients in the risk, manufacturing, services, and commercial sectors. The eighth fastest-growing law firm in Texas and the largest firm in the state with a female name partner, the firm handles a wide range of cases in a variety of practice areas, including: appellate & litigation support, banking & finance, bankruptcy & creditors' rights, commercial litigation, construction litigation, corporate, employment & labor, healthcare, insurance, mass tort litigation, medical malpractice, mergers & acquisitions, premises liability, products liability, professional liability, real estate, transportation, and workers' compensation. The attorneys also have a broad depth of experience in advising clients on non-litigation matters.

For more information, please contact Meredith McKee at 972/488-4790. The firm's website can be found at http://www.hsblaw.com.