Decker Law Secures Big Verdict Against Insurance Carrier
Make that another major victory for Decker Law against a powerful insurance company. Attorney Jeffrey P. Partington, a Partner at Decker Law, recently secured a significant personal injury verdict against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. The Portsmouth jury awarded the plaintiff $300,000 for bodily injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, inconvenience and emotional distress in the case Price v. Porter. This Decker Law victory demonstrates our commitment to fighting major insurance carriers.
“Our firm has served Hampton Roads for more than 60 years, and we’re not afraid to go up against big insurance companies and fight for justice,” Partington said. “That’s the most rewarding part of my job—ensuring our clients receive fair compensation.”
Case Details: When Decker Law Takes on Insurance Companies
On December 28, 2018, plaintiff Mr. Price was stopped in his Mercedes-Benz SUV on Volvo Parkway and Greenbrier Parkway in Chesapeake when defendant Porter rear-ended him in his Dodge Caravan. Although Porter testified that he was driving only 10 mph during impact, the collision caused significant injury despite minimal visible property damage.
The front end of the Caravan dipped from hard braking, consequently causing it to slide underneath the rear of the Mercedes. This motion jolted Price upward violently. “My client hit his head on the ceiling of the car and jammed his neck,” Partington explained. “Furthermore, he was thrown forward, which jammed his arms into his shoulders because of how he was gripping the steering wheel.”
Serious Injuries Required Multiple Surgeries
Price, 64 years old at the time of the accident, sustained severe injuries to both shoulders and his neck. Subsequently, he underwent separate rotator cuff surgeries and a cervical fusion—three major operations within a single year. The injuries also required multiple rounds of physical therapy and extensive medical treatment.
Porter’s insurance carrier, Geico, paid their $100,000 liability coverage prior to trial. However, State Farm declined to make any settlement offer under Price’s Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Remarkably, Price had been an independent State Farm agent for approximately 30 years at the time of the accident.
Trial Strategy and Medical Evidence Presentation
During the two-day trial on December 5-6, 2022 in Portsmouth Circuit Court with the Honorable Joel P. Crowe presiding, Partington presented $132,000 in medical bills. These expenses included emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging, physician consultations, surgical expenses, and extensive physical therapy costs.
State Farm’s defense team argued that Price’s three surgeries resulted from preexisting degenerative conditions rather than the December 2018 accident. Nevertheless, Partington successfully demonstrated the direct causal relationship between the collision and his client’s injuries.
Victory Against Insurance Industry Tactics
Despite the low-speed impact and unimpressive property damage photographs, the jury decided in favor of the plaintiff with their $300,000 verdict. This outcome demonstrates how proper legal representation can overcome insurance company tactics designed to minimize legitimate claims.
“My client and I were extremely pleased with the verdict,” Partington stated. “In this case, you have someone who you would expect to be treated fairly, but unfortunately, many insurance companies simply don’t care about their policyholders.”
Partington noted that insurance companies increasingly refuse to make reasonable settlement offers. “Here, we were offered absolutely zero. Therefore, we had nothing to lose and everything to gain by proceeding to trial.”
Fighting for Justice in Hampton Roads
“Many lawyers are afraid to go to court against major insurance companies, but not Decker Law,” Partington emphasized. “If we believe a case needs to go to court, our firm will take it to trial and fight relentlessly for justice.”
Decker Law specializes in personal injury, criminal defense, and traffic law with additional expertise in wills, trusts, estates, business law and medical malpractice representation. Our experienced attorneys practice throughout all seven cities of the Hampton Roads region, consistently delivering results for clients facing challenging legal situations.