Students injured in Georgia crash settle for more than $6.2 million

<p>The 19 students injured in a 2001 charter bus crash in Georgia have received more than $6.2 million from Cumberland County school system and insurance companies to settle negligence claims.</p><p>Jillian Hernandez-Adams, who was 15 at the time of the accident, received $2.4 million, by far the most of any single plaintiff in the case. She suffered head injuries and a shattered knee cap. She spent almost two weeks at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., and has had several operations.</p><p>Her case, like most of the others, was settled last summer, but the settlement amounts were not made public until the court approved them.</p><p>The other settlements range from $5,000 to $1 million. Figures aren't available for three of the cases.</p><p>The students from Massey Hill Classical High School boarded two buses in April 2001 headed for a music competition in Florida. One mile short of the Georgia-Florida line, one of the buses swerved and tipped over, skidding along a guardrail on Interstate 95.</p><p>All 46 students on board were injured, 12 seriously. Many were hospitalized for weeks and have required extensive surgeries to repair injuries and scars.</p><p>The bus was driven by Darol Britt, owner of Royal Heritage Tours. Britt was later indicted in Georgia on seven felony counts of serious injury by vehicle and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.</p><p>In February 2003, he pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 10 years of probation, 80 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine. He was forbidden from driving a commercial vehicle in Georgia during his probation.</p><p>The 19 students who sued alleged negligence on the part of the Cumberland County school system, the trip's chaperones, Britt and AMA Tours Unlimited Inc.</p><p>AMA Tours had a subcontract with Britt to provide the second bus for the trip.</p><p>Tareva Johnson settled her case for $1 million, while Patricia Mathis settled for $885,000.</p><p>Settlement amounts were unavailable for suits filed by Maria Lauer, Carissa Donovan and Christina Shepherd.</p><p>Lawyers for the defendants said they hope the settlements will allow the students to move on with their lives.</p><p>"I just remember from the depositions from these kids that there were some very impressive kids that we talked to," said Amiel Rossabi, who represents AMA Tours and its owner Alphonso Haigler. "The thing about this is, everybody was upset about the damages these kids suffered. It didn't matter whether they had culpability or not. Everyone in Cumberland County was upset."</p><p>The last of the high-school students injured in the accident graduated from high school in May.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/8/163763