DALLAS – Jurors in Judge Carlos Cortez’ 44th District Court in Dallas have awarded $911,000 to a Dallas man who was severely injured in a December 2004 auto collision caused by another driver who was under the influence of alcohol and narcotics.

Attorney Jeff Rasansky of Dallas’ Rasansky Law Firm and firm attorney Robert Wolf represented James P. Bar in the lawsuit against defendant Brandon Robert Botts.

Mr. Bar suffered life-threatening neck and facial trauma and remained in a coma for four weeks after his car was struck by a vehicle driven by Mr. Botts in the early morning hours of Dec. 2, 2004.

The collision sent Mr. Bar’s vehicle 160 feet across three medians from the intersection of Preston Road and Legacy Drive in Plano. Tests administered by police later revealed that Mr. Botts had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit as well as measurable cocaine and marijuana in his bloodstream. At the time of the accident, he was on probation for a DWI conviction in 2002, and is facing charges from a third DWI arrest in May of 2007.

“We hope that this verdict, and other verdicts like this one, will send a message of the dangers and damages inherent in drunk driving,” says Mr. Rasansky, lead counsel for Mr. Bar. “While he is fortunate to be alive, Mr. Bar has suffered significant physical and mental injuries and will likely have to deal with these conditions for the rest of his life.”

Mr. Bar, formerly a vice president for FedEx Kinkos, was hospitalized for more than six weeks following the accident and underwent extensive physical rehabilitation and facial surgery.

The eight-man, four-woman jury deliberated for two hours before finding Mr. Botts fully negligent in causing the collision and returned a damages award of $911,000 in favor of Mr. Bar. The Oct. 27 verdict includes $336,000 for medical expenses, loss of earning and disfigurement, $300,000 for past and future pain and suffering, and $275,000 for past and future physical impairment.

For more information, contact Bruce Vincent at 214.559.4630 or bruce@androvett.com.