A Missouri appellate court has upheld a jury verdict amounting to nearly $75 million against United Parcel Service (UPS), rejecting the company’s appeal concerning the introduction of evidence regarding the driver’s cocaine use. This decision comes from the Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals, which found UPS vicariously liable for a collision caused by its driver, Steven Miller, who ran a stop sign. The incident severely impacted J.P., an expectant mother, resulting in her son K.P. suffering from fetal brain damage and subsequent neurological impairments.
UPS’s appeal contended that the trial court erred in allowing information about the driver’s past cocaine use, arguing it was prejudicial. However, Judge Lisa White Hardwick, who authored the opinion for the three-judge panel, confirmed the jury’s ability to separate this evidence from the core issue of liability related to UPS’s responsibilities. The appellate court unanimously affirmed that the $65 million jury verdict, which increased to $74.98 million due to $10 million in prejudgment interest, should stand. For further insights into the court’s ruling, visit the full article.