Wrongful death crash suit settled

The family of a Jefferson County woman killed by a septic tank truck that collided with her farm tractor has settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $1 million.

Barbara Elmer’s husband and her two daughters sued King Septic Services Inc. of Cedar Hill and driver Eric S. Young of Fenton in Jefferson County Circuit Court over the Sept. 24, 2013 accident.

Plaintiff’s attorney Shaun Lieser said that Elmer — five days shy of her 70^th birthday when she was killed — was pulling into her driveway while hauling hay when the septic truck struck her tractor from behind.

Elmer, who was pinned beneath the 13-ton tractor after it overturned, died on impact.

The claim was scheduled for trial in late November but resolved out of court several weeks earlier, Lieser said.  The attorney representing the septic truck company and its driver did not respond to interview requests.

The settlement amount represented the septic company’s liability policy coverage limits, according to Lieser, who declined to provide the breakdown showing the amounts received by each of his three clients.

$1 million settlement

Wrongful death

Venue: Jefferson County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 13JE-CC01118/Nov. 17, 2015

Caption: Everett Elmer, Anita Bonacker and LouAnn Bailey v. King Septic Services, Inc. and Eric Young

Plaintiff’s Attorney: Shaun Lieser; Lieser Law Firm, St. Louis

Defendant’s Attorney: Lawrence Hartstein; The Hartstein Law Firm, St. Louis

Judge: Lisa Kay Page

Insurance: State Farm Insurance Company (for King Septic Services)

First Pretrial Offer: $250,000

Last Pretrial Offer: $400,000

Plaintiff’s Expert: William Hampton, Cape Girardeau (accident reconstruction)

Defendant’s Expert: Jeff Polster, Semke Forensic, St. Charles (engineering)