Alterman v. Zep Construction

Summary

A tractor trailer jack-knifed into traffic at a road construction crew's moving roadblock, which resulted in an 11-vehicle pile-up on I-75 in Florida. The rolling roadblock was located on the blind side of a hill. Two people died as a result of the collision. This wrongful death lawsuit involves James Brashear, who died in the crash, and his 11-year old son Tyler, who survived.

The plaintiff alleges that Zep failed to adequately warn drivers about the road block. Zep responds that the road block was properly marked, and that the accident resulted instead from the truck driver's negligence.

The jury awarded approximately $4.5M in compensatory damages, and $150K in punitive damages.

For additional details about the case, see the CVN Blog.

View a free video clip from the case:
Defense attorney, Paula Parisi, cross examines Dr. Nancy Baird -- Clip 1

Outcome

Fault: 65%- Zep, 30%-TCP
Damages (James): 210,647.28
Funeral (James): 10,000
Loss (James): 1,000,000-Past, 3,000,000-Future
Medical(Tyler): 46,250.25-Past, 10,000- Future
Loss(Tyler): 75,000-Past, 0- Future
Punitive for both James and Taylor: 100,000- Zep, 50,000-TCP
Total Damges: 4,351,897.67
Total Punitive:150,000

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Alterman, Laura
Defense: Zep Construction
Verdict: $4,501,898

Judge: Rick De Furia
Jurisdiction: 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center

Case Number: 08-13208
Industry: Construction, Trucking
Practice Area: Tort Law, Transportation, Negligence, Construction Law

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:06	General Case Activities
00:13:53	Opening Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
00:37:28	Break
00:41:15	Opening Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
00:57:51	Break
01:01:38	Opening Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
01:07:03	Break
01:34:16	Opening Statement	Chusid, Mitchel

PM Session

Openings

14 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	General Case Activities
00:01:00	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Moore, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:48:05	Witness Cross Examination	Jack, Robert	Moore, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:50:45	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Moore, Mr. Richard	In Person
00:58:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Moore, Mr. Richard	In Person
01:21:17	Break
01:37:40	Witness Direct Examination		Starkweather, Mr. John	Video Recording

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	General Case Activities
00:01:33	Witness Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	Video Recording
00:58:20	Witness Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
01:27:33	Break
01:42:33	Witness Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
02:25:53	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
02:29:46	General Case Activities
02:38:38	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
02:48:28	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
02:58:16	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
02:59:22	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
03:03:01	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Bove, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:01	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
00:55:06	General Case Activities
00:59:50	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:07	Witness Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
01:08:30	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
01:12:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
01:48:15	Break
02:02:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
02:42:35	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
03:05:15	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person
03:05:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Lewis, Dr. Russell	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:13	General Case Activities
00:02:28	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Betts, Mr. Troy	In Person
01:03:23	Witness Cross Examination	Jack, Robert	Betts, Mr. Troy	In Person
01:04:33	Break
01:45:40	Witness Cross Examination	Jack, Robert	Betts, Mr. Troy	In Person
02:08:13	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Betts, Mr. Troy	In Person
02:09:58	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Betts, Mr. Troy	In Person
02:33:18	Break
02:37:33	General Case Activities		Betts, Mr. Troy	In Person

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Hernandez-Sosa, Mr. Lionel	Transcript Reading
00:22:48	Witness Direct Examination	Rosner,	Tuck, Mr. Kyle	Video Recording
00:47:53	Break
00:58:02	Witness Direct Examination	Rosner,	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
01:44:08	Break
01:56:18	General Case Activities
02:00:29	Witness Direct Examination	Rosner,	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:04	Witness Direct Examination	Rosner,	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
00:17:46	Break
01:17:52	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Baird, Dr. Nancy	In Person
01:54:22	Break
02:17:14	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Baird, Dr. Nancy	In Person
03:04:12	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Baird, Dr. Nancy	In Person
03:10:22	Witness Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Baird, Dr. Nancy	In Person
03:28:37	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Baird, Dr. Nancy	In Person

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:08	General Case Activities
00:02:53	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Bush, Mr. John	In Person
00:22:23	Witness Cross Examination	Jack, Robert	Bush, Mr. John	In Person
00:26:39	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Bush, Mr. John	In Person
00:32:44	Break
00:41:43	Witness Direct Examination	Rosner,	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
01:00:21	Witness Cross Examination	Jilek, Benjamin	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

16 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:06	Witness Cross Examination	Jilek, Benjamin	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
00:13:18	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Spiegel, Arthur	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
00:15:17	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Kelly, Mr. Anthony	Video Recording
00:21:16	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
01:10:46	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
01:17:56	General Case Activities
01:39:12	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
01:44:36	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
02:14:28	Break
02:16:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
02:20:16	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
02:21:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Wasleulski, Mr. Thomas	In Person
02:22:16	General Case Activities
02:45:36	Witness Direct Examination	Rosner,	Fleurian, Mr. Gerard	Video Recording
03:06:50	Witness Cross Examination	Jack, Robert	Fleurian, Mr. Gerard	Video Recording
03:09:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rosner,	Fleurian, Mr. Gerard	Video Recording

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

20 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:04	Witness Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Gray, Mr. Omar	Video Recording
00:32:35	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Gray, Mr. Omar	Video Recording
00:35:34	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Alterman, Mrs. Lauren	In Person
00:51:59	Witness Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Alterman, Mrs. Lauren	In Person
00:53:49	Break
01:03:44	Witness Direct Examination		Molina-Alamo, Ms. Giavietta	Video Recording
01:10:34	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Molina-Alamo, Ms. Giavietta	Video Recording
01:15:59	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Molina-Alamo, Ms. Giavietta	Video Recording
01:21:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Molina-Alamo, Ms. Giavietta	Video Recording
01:28:49	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Guarino, Mrs. Kim	In Person
01:53:04	Witness Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Guarino, Mrs. Kim	In Person
02:11:21	Break
02:27:04	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Nunez, Mr. Orlando	In Person
03:32:44	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Spillane, Mr. Robert	In Person
03:47:10	Witness Cross Examination	Fulmer, Paul	Spillane, Mr. Robert	In Person
03:50:34	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Spillane, Mr. Robert	In Person
03:52:04	Break
03:55:14	General Case Activities		Spillane, Mr. Robert	In Person
03:58:04	Witness Cross Examination	Megerian, Aram	Nunez, Mr. Orlando	In Person
04:11:09	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Nunez, Mr. Orlando	In Person

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:05	Witness Direct Examination	Fulmer, Paul	Negrin, Ms. Aurea	Transcript Reading
00:14:30	Witness Direct Examination		Qualls, Mr. Brian	Video Recording
01:11:20	Break

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

15 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:16	Witness Direct Examination	Jack, Robert	Stevens, Ms. Jacqueline	In Person
00:05:26	General Case Activities
01:25:51	Witness Direct Examination	Jack, Robert	Stevens, Ms. Jacqueline	In Person
01:54:53	Break
02:05:06	Witness Direct Examination	Jack, Robert	Stevens, Ms. Jacqueline	In Person
02:13:01	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Stevens, Ms. Jacqueline	In Person
02:39:31	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Parisi, Paula	Stevens, Ms. Jacqueline	In Person
02:49:21	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Stevens, Ms. Jacqueline	In Person
02:58:51	Break
03:12:26	Witness Direct Examination	Hearn,	Shaw, Mr. Clinton	Video Recording
03:21:01	Witness Cross Examination	Sposato, James	Shaw, Mr. Clinton	Video Recording
03:22:41	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Spiegel, Arthur	Shaw, Mr. Clinton	Video Recording
03:23:41	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Shaw, Mr. Clinton	Video Recording
03:32:36	Witness Direct Examination	Jones,	Rieiera, Mr. Alexi	Video Recording
04:08:41	Witness Direct Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Rieiera, Mr. Alexi	Video Recording

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:16	Witness Direct Examination	Parisi, Paula	Paxton, Mr. Paul	In Person
00:41:16	Witness Direct Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Paxton, Mr. Paul	In Person
00:43:31	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Paxton, Mr. Paul	In Person
01:08:57	General Case Activities
01:41:41	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Paxton, Mr. Paul	In Person
02:18:21	Break
02:29:21	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Paxton, Mr. Paul	In Person
02:41:21	General Case Activities
02:44:01	Break
02:51:21	General Case Activities		Paxton, Mr. Paul	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:16	General Case Activities	Giannuzzi, Greg
00:06:51	Witness Direct Examination	Jack, Robert	Fornier, Mr. Donald	In Person
01:05:46	Witness Cross Examination	Sposato, James	Fornier, Mr. Donald	In Person
01:14:46	Break
01:26:46	Witness Cross Examination	Sposato, James	Fornier, Mr. Donald	In Person
01:41:46	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Jack, Robert	Fornier, Mr. Donald	In Person
01:47:46	Break
01:49:17	General Case Activities		Fornier, Mr. Donald	In Person
01:52:36	Break
02:02:36	General Case Activities

FEB

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:08	General Case Activities
		00:05:49	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Breen, Mr. Kevin	Transcript Reading

PM Session

Other

1 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Closings

4 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

8 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Verdict

3 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Punitive Phase

3 Chapters

PM Session

Punitive Phase

12 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Punitive Phase

17 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:13	Witness Direct Examination	Fulmer, Paul	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	In Person
00:16:20	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	In Person
00:22:38	General Case Activities
00:30:59	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	In Person
01:11:20	General Case Activities
01:25:40	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	In Person
01:40:40	Break
01:53:05	Witness Direct Examination	Megerian, Aram	Waseleuski, Ms. Karen	In Person
02:07:05	Witness Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Waseleuski, Ms. Karen	In Person
02:15:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Megerian, Aram	Waseleuski, Ms. Karen	In Person
02:19:50	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Waseleuski, Ms. Karen	In Person
02:24:55	General Case Activities
02:30:30	Closing Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
02:44:05	Closing Statement	Jack, Robert
02:58:05	Closing Statement	Megerian, Aram
03:02:25	Closing Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
03:18:13	General Case Activities

PM Session

Punitive Verdict

1 Chapters

FEB

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Alterman v. Zep Construction

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

AudioCaseFiles

Essentials

Training Libraries

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	General Case Activities
00:00:31	General Case Activities
00:01:02	Opening Statement	Giannuzzi, Greg
00:42:48	General Case Activities
00:53:06	Opening Statement	Giannuzzi, Greg
00:59:58	General Case Activities
01:02:03	Opening Statement	Megerian, Aram
01:32:53	General Case Activities
01:53:56	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Mahaffey, Mr. Kylie	In Person
02:21:46	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Mahaffey, Mr. Kylie	In Person
02:31:50	Witness Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Mahaffey, Mr. Kylie	In Person
02:32:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Mahaffey, Mr. Kylie	In Person
02:39:51	General Case Activities
02:41:26	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:14	General Case Activities
00:01:26	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	Video Recording
00:16:39	General Case Activities
00:25:56	General Case Activities
00:27:31	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Guidry, Ms. Tabitha	In Person
00:58:16	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Guidry, Ms. Tabitha	In Person
01:11:46	Witness Cross Examination	Giannuzzi, Greg	Guidry, Ms. Tabitha	In Person
01:19:46	Break
01:32:36	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	Video Recording
02:06:46	General Case Activities
02:15:08	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:06	General Case Activities
00:01:36	Witness Direct Examination		Lyle, Mr. Jason	Video Recording
00:29:36	Witness Cross Examination	Parisi, Paula	Lyle, Mr. Jason	Video Recording
00:32:36	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Lyle, Mr. Jason	Video Recording
00:38:32	Witness Cross Examination		Lyle, Mr. Jason	Video Recording
00:42:41	Witness Direct Examination		Reed, Mr. Gary	Video Recording
01:02:36	Witness Direct Examination	Sposato, James	Reed, Mr. Gary	Video Recording

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:21	Witness Direct Examination		Merlos, Mr. Pablo	Video Recording
01:03:31	Break
01:17:01	Witness Direct Examination		Merlos, Mr. Pablo	Video Recording
02:59:21	Break
03:16:31	General Case Activities
03:19:46	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Brashear, Tyler	In Person

	Description	Attorney
00:00:08	General Case Activities
00:47:08	Closing Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
02:12:12	General Case Activities
02:22:16	Closing Statement	Chusid, Mitchel

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:05	Reading of the Verdict
		00:06:15	Break
		00:08:55	General Case Activities

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:01	General Case Activities
		00:01:06	Break
		01:39:16	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:07	General Case Activities
00:01:49	Opening Statement	Chusid, Mitchel
00:12:38	Opening Statement	Jack, Robert
00:19:49	Opening Statement	Megerian, Aram
00:28:44	Break
01:17:09	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Bush, Mr. John	In Person
01:29:09	General Case Activities
01:52:59	General Case Activities
01:53:59	Break
02:09:59	Witness Direct Examination	Chusid, Mitchel	Zepchevski, Mr. Jovan	In Person
03:21:09	Break
03:27:59	General Case Activities