Barry County jury rejects loss of consortium claim

John Franke defended a dog breeder in an action in Barry County, Missouri brought by plaintiff and his wife arising out of a highway vehicular accident. Plaintiff was the primary caretaker for his wife, who was physically disabled and bedridden by a disease unrelated to the accident. She filed a consortium claim against the defendant. Plaintiff claimed that he could not adequately care for his wife based on his injuries from the accident. The Judge allowed a day-in-the-life video to be shown to the jury. Plaintiffs sought more than a quarter of a million dollars in damages, but the jury found in favor of defendant on Mrs. Sturgell's loss of consortium claim, and awarded Mr. Sturgell only $25,000.00, far less than the pre-trial offer.