$342,500 Settlement After Appellate Court Reverses No Coverage Ruling

After several years of fighting for compensation for his client’s injuries, Jon Mincieli secured a $342,500 settlement for his client who was severely injured at a horse-riding event.

Ronald* was a passenger in a golf cart driven by a horse farm employee at an event hosted by the farm. The driver of the golf cart was responsible for monitoring the horses and horseback riders participating in the event when, suddenly, one of the horses took off running away from the event. The driver of the golf cart – with Ronald in tow – quickly drove the golf cart in pursuit of the horse. In doing so, the driver drove the golf cart off the mowed path and onto a grassy field, where Ronald was thrown from the cart. After falling onto the ground, Ronald’s left leg was run over and crushed by the golf cart’s tires resulting in severe injuries, including a badly fractured ankle which required three surgeries to mend.  

Meyers & Flowers filed Ronald’s case in Cook County, IL alleging that the driver of the golf cart was negligent and failed to take appropriate care to avoid injuring others. However, the case was complicated by the insurance company for the horse farm – from which the recovery for Ronald’s injuries would be made – filing a case in federal court denying any obligation to pay for Ronald’s injuries because the event was held offsite from the horse farm’s usual operating location. The federal court judge agreed with the insurance company’s position and ruled that the horse farm’s insurance company was not liable to defend the horse farm or indemnify Ronald’s injuries as there was no insurance coverage given the location of the incident.

Not to be deterred by the federal court’s ruling, Attorneys Jon Mincieli and Ted Meyers filed an appeal in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, where Ted Meyers argued the appeal. Meyers & Flowers maintained that the horse farm’s insurance company was liable and must provide the necessary insurance coverages and duties in Ronald’s case. After several years of relentlessly pursuing compensation for Ronald, Meyers & Flowers emerged victorious with an opinion entered by the Court of Appeals reversing and remanding the decision made by the federal court judge. Thus, after a lengthy and well-fought legal battle, Meyers & Flowers was able to resolve Ronald’s case and secure a $342,500 recovery for his injuries and suffering.

Meyers & Flowers remains committed to our clients until each case reaches a fair and just resolution. If you or someone you know have fallen victim to the negligence of others, call Meyers & Flowers at 630-576-9696 for your free, no obligation case evaluation.