Jury sides with defense in motor vehicle collision at intersection

A crash at a traffic signal has resulted in a defense verdict in Greene County.

“It was a dispute about who had a red light,” said Charles Cooper of Franke, Schultz & Mullen.

Cooper’s firm represented defendant Sherry Powell who was targeted for suit by motorist Lloyd Marshall, who claimed the former pulled out into the intersection to make a left while he still had the light. However, she claimed she waited until the signal changed to conduct the turn.

“She and her mother were sitting at the light waiting for it to change,” Cooper said. “The jury just didn’t buy that that made sense that she would be waiting all this time with her mother in the car and then pull out for no reason.”

Cooper said the plaintiff told police that he looked briefly to his right and when he looked back, the defendant was already in front of him.

Cooper said there was no video available of the incident. He introduced testimony from the defendant’s mother and the investigating police officer. The attorney argued that the plaintiff may not have been paying close attention.

“In other words, if he was watching where he was going, why didn’t he see the car come into view?” he said.

Cooper said he spoke to alternate jurors in the case afterward.

“They just felt like he didn’t prove his case,” he said. “He didn’t meet his burden.”

Cooper listed Brandon Howard and Joel Block of Aaron Sachs & Associates as representing the plaintiff in the matter. They did not return a request for comment on the matter.

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Defense verdict

Motor vehicle collision

Venue: Greene County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 2231-CC00747/April 1, 2025

Judge: Joshua Christensen

Plaintiffs’ Experts: Mitchell Mullins, Springfield, (life care planning)

Injuries: Various orthopedic injuries

Special Damages: $127,927.02

Caption: Lloyd Marshall v. Sherry Powell

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys: Brandon Howard and Joel Block of Aaron Sachs and Associates, (Springfield)

Defendants’ Attorneys: Charles H. Cooper of Franke, Schultz & Mullen