Rear-end collision suit settles for more than $1M in St. Louis County

A settlement of more than $1 million was reached in a lawsuit involving the driver of a company vehicle who was found to be under the influence of drugs.

Plaintiffs Jeannine Zigrang-Morse and Kim Baldwin reached a global settlement of $1.5 million in their suit against Douglas Concrete and Construction and Jacob Ebbesmeyer. Zigrang-Morse received $1.15 million and Baldwin received $350,000. The settlement was reached during mediation on Aug. 8, 2025, before trial.

The plaintiffs were represented by lead attorney Shaun Lieser of the Lieser Law Firm in St. Louis, along with W. Alex Lamb, also with Lieser Law. The defendants were represented by attorney Christopher Leritz of Leritz & Plunkert in St. Louis.

Zigrang-Morse was driving and Baldwin was the passenger at the time of the collision on July 3, 2019, when they were rear-ended by Ebbesmeyer while at a stop light at the intersection of Missouri Highway 340 and Missouri Route3 141. At the time, Ebbesmeyer was in the course and scope of his employment with Douglas Concrete and Construction. According to Lieser, Ebbesmeyer admitted to having amphetamines in his system at the time of the collision after a field sobriety test and was arrested at the scene.

Baldwin sustained a head injury and concussion as a result of the crash and had to undergo some physical therapy. Zigrang-Morse also sustained a head injury and concussion but also had injuries to her neck and low back requiring pain management. She also received future surgical recommendations, which is why she received a larger settlement number, per Lieser.

The two plaintiffs filed their cases in St. Louis County Circuit Court in December 2022 before moving for settlement in 2025.

The plaintiffs’ team had two experts: Dr. Matthew Gornet, a surgeon with The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis in Chesterfield, and Dr. Thomas Lee, a surgeon with Pain and Rehabilitation Specialists of St. Louis.

Counsel for the defense could not be reached for comment.

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Motor Vehicle Collision

Amount of settlement: $1.5 million

Breakdown and distribution of total value: Global settlement; $1.15 million for plaintiff Jeannine Zigrang-Morse and $350,000 for plaintiff Kim Baldwin

Type of action: Motor vehicle collision

Venue: St. Louis County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 23SL-CC00041 tried with 23SL-CC00040, 08/08/2025

Injuries alleged: Head, brain, neck, back, spine

Injuries detail: Plaintiff Baldwin had a head injury with concussion; plaintiff Zigrang-Morse had a head injury with concussion, neck and low back with ongoing treatment and future surgical recommendations for the neck and low back.

Special Damages: Plaintiffs did not submit medical bills or lost wages.

Plaintiff Attorney(s): Shaun Lieser and W. Alex Lamb of the Lieser Law Firm in St. Louis,

Defendant Attorney(s): Christopher Leritz of Leritz & Plunkert in St. Louis

Insurance Carrier(s): Secura Insurance Company for defendant Jacob Ebbesmeyer

Plaintiff Expert(s): Dr. Matthew Gornet, a surgeon with The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis in Chesterfield; Dr. Thomas Lee, a surgeon with Pain and Rehabilitation Specialists of St. Louis