$3.5 million accident lawsuit against FFE dismissed

FFE Transportation (N0. 62 in the CCJ Top 250) won a lawsuit filed against it by the City of Saint Jo after a jury in a Texas district court ruled Jan. 14 in favor of the fleet by rejecting the city’s $3.5 million suit filed over a crash that took place in 2010.

The jury ruled that reefer carrier FFE was not at fault in a crash between an FFE truck and a police car driven by former police officer Billy Reynolds, who was responding to a call. The City of Saint Jo alleged the driver failed to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Jurors deliberated for just five minutes after a six-day trial.

Attorney Bill Chamblee, who represented FFE, said the verdict is significant because of the precedent it sets. “This decision is important because it demonstrates that drivers of municipal emergency vehicles must use a measure of care when they’re on public roadways at all times, even when they’re responding to calls.”