Jury awards $6.05M verdict in Illinois trucking crash case

A Christian County jury awarded more than $6 million to a plaintiff who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2018 collision with a semitruck, finding the defendant trucking company largely at fault.

Jurors returned a verdict on June 16 in favor of plaintiff George Guinn IV against Farmdog Trucking LLC. The total award was $6.05 million, with jurors allocating 75 percent fault to the defendant and 25 percent contributory fault to Guinn.

The case stemmed from a March 26, 2018, crash in Christian County. According to the Illinois Traffic Crash Report, a Peterbilt semitruck driven by Jimmy Crisp, operating for Farmdog Trucking, collided with Guinn’s 1998 Ford Escort. The report indicates Guinn was transported by ambulance from the scene, while Crisp refused medical treatment.

Guinn alleged the collision caused a traumatic brain injury, along with other head and neck injuries.

Prior to trial, the plaintiff demanded all applicable insurance policy limits. Farmdog, insured by Northland Insurance, initially offered $60,000 before the lawsuit was filed, and later offered $1 million the week before trial. Both offers were rejected.

The jury trial concluded June 16 before Christian County Circuit Court. The judgment, entered July 18, 2025, formalized the award.

Guinn was represented by lead attorney Zane T. Cagle of The Cagle Law Firm in St. Louis, along with Kyle Sherman of Brandt & Sherman in Lafayette, Louisiana. Farmdog Trucking was represented by John O. Langfelder and Joseph K. Guyette of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, with offices in Springfield and Champaign, Illinois.

Cagle said the verdict was appropriate given the severity of Guinn’s injuries and the circumstances of the crash, noting that the jury’s finding placed responsibility where it belonged.

Counsel for the defense declined to comment.

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Motor Vehicle Collision

Amount of verdict/settlement: $6.05 million verdict (reduced by 25 percent contributory fault)

Breakdown and distribution of total value: $6.05 million verdict; 75 percent fault assigned to defendant, 25 percent to plaintiff

Type of Action: Motor vehicle collision

Venue: Christian County Circuit Court

Case number/date: 2021-L-13, 06/16/2025

Caption: George Guinn IV v. Farmdog Trucking, LLC

Injuries alleged: Traumatic brain injury

Plaintiff expert(s): Ammar Ahmed Chaudry, neuroradiology doctor from Duarte, California; Robert E. Eilers, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor from Big Rock, Illinois; Michael D. Snyder, neurology doctor at SSM Mercy Neurology in St. Louis; William E. Hampton Sr., forensic crash reconstruction specialist in Benton

Defendant expert(s): Joshua S. Shimony, neuroradiology doctor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; Todd B. Silverman, neurology doctor at the Brain & Spine Center in Chesterfield; Fred B. Semke, forensic engineering specialist with Semke Forensic in St. Charles

Last pretrial demand: Plaintiff demanded all applicable insurance policy limits

Plaintiff’s attorney(s): Zane T. Cagle of The Cagle Law Firm in St. Louis and Kyle Sherman of Brandt & Sherman in Lafayette, Louisiana

Defendant’s attorney(s): John O. Langfelder and Joseph K. Guyette of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen in Springfield and Champaign, Illinois