Western National Mutual Insurance Co. v. Advanced Disposal Services Solid Waste Midwest, LLC (Jury Verdict on Damages)

In Western National Mutual Insurance Co. v. Advanced Disposal Services Solid Waste Midwest, LLC (2018AP2213), the Court of Appeals District IV upheld a jury’s award of $25,000 in damages to American Wood Recycling for a trailer damaged by American Disposal.

American Wood alleged that American Disposal negligently overloaded one of American Wood’s trailers, which resulted in a $50,289 invoice for the total cost of repairs. At trial, the jury found that $25,000 would fully compensate American Wood for damage to its trailer. American Wood appealed that verdict.

The court of appeals upheld the jury verdict, finding that there was evidence to support the jury’s damages award. At trial, American Wood and American Disposal disputed how much of the repairs were pre-existing damage and what were new damages due to American Disposal’s negligent overloading. Although the total cost of both pre-existing and new damages repairs was $50,289, the court found sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that $25,000 was sufficient for repairs of the new damage from American Disposal’s negligent overloading.