Advocate Attorneys Secure $4.5 Million Verdict for Client

Advocate attorneys Tyler Call and Michael Driggs successfully secured a 4.5-million-dollar verdict on behalf of our client in Federal Court. The case was against a large oil company that owns and operates oil wells in the Uinta Basin. Our client worked for a trucking company hired to haul crude oil from the wells in the Uinta Basin to the refinery in Salt Lake City.  

A hatch on one of the oil company’s tanks malfunctioned due to improper maintenance, allowing dangerous pressure to build in the tank. While preparing to pump crude oil from the well into his truck, our client was sprayed in the face with hydrocarbon condensates. Exposure to these toxic hydrocarbon condensates resulted in a momentary loss of consciousness and a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen.  

The case took seven years to bring to trial. This case did not begin with The Advocates but was filed by a local attorney and referred to The Advocates specifically for trial. Prior to trial, the defense’s best offer of settlement was $200,000. No offers of settlement were made during the trial. The defense case focused on what our client did wrong, trying to convince the jury that he was the sole cause of his injuries.  

During the trial, Michael and Tyler successfully showed the jury how the Defendant failed to inspect, maintain, and repair the oil tank hatch as they were required to do. They also proved that these failures resulted in our client’s injuries. They showed the jury that he suffered a permanent brain injury that resulted in his inability to continue to work as a commercial truck driver and negatively impacted several of his simple daily tasks.  

The Jury deliberated for approximately seven hours and returned a unanimous verdict in favor of our client.