Defendant's Attorney: Paul A. Dobson, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney

Description: Bowling Green, Ohio personal injury lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued the Defendants on negligence theories.

This case arose from a fatal car accident in which K.B., who was 16 years old, was the driver, and Copeland, who was 15 years old, was the front-seat passenger and victim. Veller, Copeland's mother, filed this lawsuit against K.B., his guardian, and numerous entities. This appeal concerns only one of the defendants, the Wood County Board of Commissioners.

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Plaintiff's 15-year-old son, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on September 25, 2021. She alleged that K.B. was driving a Chevrolet Cruze eastbound on King Road in the village of Haskins, which is located in Middleton Township, Wood County, Ohio. When K.B. drove over a set of railroad tracks, he failed to maintain control of the vehicle, drove off the right side of the road "at a high rate of speed . . .[,]" hit a utility pole, and "crashed into a roadside ditch." Copeland was K.B.'s front-seat passenger. He died at the scene of the accident as a result of blunt force trauma before he received any emergency medical care. The Wood County Sheriffs Department found K.B. at fault for the accident and issued him a citation.

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egal issue Does the Wood County Board of Commissioners have immunity under Ohio law from claims regarding the alleged failure to maintain road safety, contributing to a fatal car accident?

Key Phrases Fatal car accident. Political subdivision immunity. Negligent failure to maintain. Dangerous road conditions. Intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Outcome: Judgment affirmed, in part, reversed, in part, and remanded.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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