Chicago Widow Awarded One Of The Largest Settlements In Cook County History
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Tracy Swenson remembers the day in May of 2012 when her husband Aaron was killed by a speeding truck driver that slammed into the back of his car while he was stopped in a construction zone.
"I got the call at work," she said. "People on the scene called me. They were trying to help Aaron and found his phone and called the last person he called and that was me."
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Swenson was pregnant at the time of the crash.
"Not only did I lose my husband, but I also lost what would have been a lifetime of memories, happiness and family moments together," she said.
After a two-week trial, a jury awarded her $22.7 million for grief and sorrow.
Attorney Colin Dunn of Clifford Law Offices says the large settlement sends a strong message.
"This company needs to do a better job of monitoring its drivers," said Dunn "What happened that morning was not an aberration. We believe it was something that was waiting to happen."
The truck driver had drugs in his system when he slammed into Swenson's car on I-294. Adam Troy worked for Hussman Corporation of Missouri at the time and had a history of speeding tickets.
"This incident happened just before 8 o'clock in the morning," Dunn said. "That means this driver most likely started out his day in an impaired condition and ended the life of an innocent man. It's a devastating loss for this family."
The five man seven woman jury deliberated just three hours before reaching the verdict Monday night.
