Wrongful Death Cases
Mike Faulk has handled catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases all across Tennessee for more than twenty-five years. At the Faulk Law Office we know most people don't want to file a lawsuit, much less go to court.
Our greatest advantage to families in Tennessee is working with insurance companies to settle injury and wrongful death claims - many times before a court case is ever filed. But if it becomes necessary to file a lawsuit, we understand how, especially in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, insurance companies work to limit their financial liability rather than help injury victims and their families.
We prepare for every case expecting a court battle. We've learned insurance companies want to resolve your injury claim when it becomes obvious that you and your attorney are thoroughly prepared for a court fight. Also, unlike some attorneys who advertise with big yellow pages ads or TV commercials but rarely, if ever take a case to trial, Mike Faulk has appeared before and tried lawsuits before many of the trial judges in Tennessee. Mike Faulk has prosecuted wrongful death claims as far away as Hawaii but primarily practices wrongful death and catastrophic injury law in northeast Tennessee.
All across Tennessee, we have successfully pursued catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims arising out of automobile collisions, trucking collisions, defective products and on-the-job tragedies. Our Nationwide Toll-free number is 1-800-611-1001.
We are often called on and associated by other attorneys in our area of special expertise - alcohol-related injuries and wrongful deaths - called DRAM SHOP LAW.
Below is a sampling of the wrongful death cases we have handled for the loved ones of those who lost theirs lives when tragedy struck.
Estate of Calcott v. Rutherford
On May 4, 2007, 19 year old James Calcott was on his way home riding his motorcycle on Island Road near Blountville, Tennessee. Just minutes before, a collision had taken place on a nearby thoroughfare, Highway 394, blocking traffic.
Rather than wait on the connector route to Interstate 81, the driver of a UPS tractor-trailer decided to divert onto Island Road which is a curvy, narrow country road in rural Sullivan County.
As James Calcott and the UPS truck approached one another on Island Road, the trailer being pulled caught an electrical wire which overhung the roadway pulling the utility pole to which it was attached out of the ground and onto James Calcott.
The trailer was just over 13 feet high. But State regulations required electrical wires overhanging roadways have at least 18 feet clearance.
Forensic economist Gil Mathis provided analysis on the pecuniary value of the loss of life.
The matter was resolved in mediation in February 2008 without resort to litigation.
Estate of Santana Lamb v. Clay's Trucking
On July 8, 1999, Nina Burton Seals life was forever changed. Her mother and her 8 year old daughter, while on a trip to visit family, were both killed instantly in Clarksville, Tennessee when broadsided by a tractor-trailer truck. The truck driver claimed and the investigating officer concluded that Nina's mother ran a redlight. Nina then turned to Mike Faulk for help.
While no amount of money could ever make up for her loss, the wrongful death litigation was successfully concluded. To avoid any conflict of interest, Morristown attorney Danny Hryhorchuk handled the claim for the death of Nina's mother and the cases were settled for $1,565,000 with a present value of $965,000.
Estate of Joyner v. Cheddars
Jeffery Joyner, a successful contractor, was killed on his 35th birthday 5 minutes after leaving the bar of a local restaurant. He was a passenger in his own truck being operated by a friend whose blood alcohol content was nearly two and one-half times the legal limit. The bar's records show the two of them consumed 12 or more alcoholic beverages. Even though the bar's own policy was broken - a 3 drink per person limit - Cheddars denied any responsibility for Joyner's death but settled for a confidential sum before trial.
Circuit Court Judge Kindall Lawson entered Judgment against the drunk driver in the amount of $1,328,332.59 on September 13, 2004. The judgment amount included $50,000.00 in punitive damages.