On January 31st, 2024, Fox 4 Kansas City reported that the family of a man killed in a 2022 Amtrak shooting has been awarded approximately $158 million as part of a wrongful death lawsuit. The man from Independence, Missouri, who was survived by his wife and three children, did not receive treatment for a key period of time because the Amtrak train continued to the next stop instead of stopping to allow emergency aid to be rendered. Within this article, our Kansas City wrongful death attorney provides a more comprehensive overview of the case.
Wrongful Death Case: Major Award for Grieving Family
In a landmark wrongful death lawsuit, the family of a man who was fatally shot aboard an Amtrak train in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, in January 2022 was awarded $158 million. The victim was shot and killed by a man while the train was stopped.
Despite passengers alerting train personnel of the shooting, the train continued to its next stop, where the victim was pronounced dead. It was a delay of at least 35 minutes. The lack of security measures taken by Amtrak, as well as its failure to provide immediate assistance, were central to the wrongful death lawsuit—which was filed by the deceased man’s wife on behalf of herself and their kids.
Punitive Damages Were Awarded in the Wrongful Death Claim
The jury awarded the family approximately $8.8 million in compensatory damages. Another $150 million in punitive damages were awarded. Punitive damages are a form of “penalty” damages that can be awarded to punish especially harmful conduct. Punitive damages serve to punish defendants for particularly egregious behavior and to deter similar conduct in the future by both the defendant and others. A punitive damages award may be subject to being trimmed down during an appeal or based on a statutory cap.
Wrongful Death Laws Offer a Path to Justice for Grieving Families
The loss of a loved one is devastating. A wrongful death claim is a civil cause of action that provides a much-needed path toward justice, accountability, financial support, and some level of closure for grieving families. The wrongful death laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. If you lose a loved one to an accident in Kansas City, it is imperative that you work with an attorney who is well-versed in either Missouri law or Kansas law. To prove liability in a wrongful death claim, grieving family members must prove that the death of their loved one resulted from another’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act.
Contact Our Kansas City Wrongful Death Attorney Today
At House Law LLC, we are a law firm committed to doing right by victims and their families. Our team is on your side. If you have any questions about a wrongful death case, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free, strictly confidential consultation. We handle wrongful death cases throughout the Greater Kansas City metro area, including in Missouri and Kansas.
Tags: brain injury, personal injury, traumatic brain injury
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