Significant Settlements
Mr. Keane has represented more than 1,500 injured people and their families during his thirty years of practicing law in Sioux City, Iowa. He has been able to obtain substantial verdicts and settlements in cases involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, motor vehicle collisions, slip and fall (premises liability) cases, legal malpractice, workers' compensation, products liabilities and employment law violations. It would not be practical to list here even 10% of the successful settlements obtained. When selecting a trial attorney, be sure to ask about that attorney's experience including his or her willingness to take cases all the way to a jury trial, and the Iowa Supreme Court if necessary. If you are wondering whether Ed Keane has the experience to handle a case similar to yours, contact his office now for an initial consultation at no charge.
Verdicts are categorized by decades in reverse chronology:
Estate of Tamera Wagner vs. Roy Sparks - Tamera Wagner was a young mother in her late 30's who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle collision on Interstate 29 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. Tamera was survived by two children, age 11 and 9 at the time of Tamera's death. Tamera was operating a semi-trailer in a northerly direction on Interstate 29 as part of her daily route of driving from Sioux Falls to Omaha and back. Tamera's vehicle collided with the rear of a semi being operated by Roy Sparks. Although Tamera's vehicle collided with the rear of Mr. Sparks' trailer, a careful investigation revealed negligence on the part of Mr. Sparks for traveling at a very low rate of speed on the interstate. The insurance company for Roy Sparks refused to ever make any offer of settlement. After a lengthy jury trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, a jury returned a verdict in favor of Ed Keane's client. Mr. Keane recommended that the jury award each child $1,000,000.00 for loss of parental consortium, and over $300,000.00 for loss of financial support. The jury awarded the damages requested of $2,303,023.00, with 85% of fault attributed to Roy Sparks and only 15% to Tamer Wagner.
Messerschmidt vs. City of Sioux City - Mr. Keane's client was a woman in her 40's who was struck by a drunk driver on the riverfront in Sioux City, Iowa, while riding in a golf cart as a volunteer for the Sioux City Rivercade parade. The drunk driver was not insured. Mr. Keane first obtained a settlement against the client's own insurance company in the sum of $100,000.00, however, the client's damages were substantially greater than this amount. After careful investigation, it was decided that suit should be filed against the City of Sioux City based upon its failure to keep traffic off the riverfront roadway until parade pedestrian traffic had cleared. The roadway had been closed and Mrs. Messerschmidt understood it would remain closed until all pedestrian traffic had cleared. The City of Sioux City (city council) refused to make any offer of settlement. By jury trial, Ed Keane was able to obtain a verdict of just over $1,000,000.00 for his client. The City of Sioux City appealed the verdict. The Iowa supreme court affirmed the verdict in favor of Mr. Keane's client.
Cook vs. Petersen - Mr. Keane's client was a woman in her 40's whose vehicle was struck by another vehicle. The Defendant's insurance company made several offers with its final offer being $50,000.00. The Defendant insurance company hired a psychiatrist to testify that Mr. Keane's client was exaggerating her symptoms. With extensive cross-examination, it was established that the psychiatrist regularly testifies to the same opinions for defense attorneys and insurance companies. The jury rejected the psychiatrist's testimony and awarded money damages of $110,000.00.
Vandeweerd vs. Hull Western Christian - Mr. Keane's injured client is a man in his late 40's who was injured when working on scaffolding as a volunteer at a school prom party at Hull Western Christian in Sioux County, Iowa. The scaffolding had been erected by the school custodian. Because bracing had not been properly set, the scaffolding tipped, throwing client from the top as a result of which, he sustained multiple fractures to the heels of both feet. The Defendant's insurance company's final offer was $110,000.00. The Defendant was a private parochial school in Sioux County which was likely attended by many of the prospective jurors and/or their children. The conventional thinking among attorneys and insurance companies was that Sioux County jurors would be very conservative in awarding damages, particularly when the Defendant was this private parochial school. Nevertheless, the jury returned a verdict of $547,960.00.
Scott Sexton, Administrator of the Estate of Lauren Sexton vs. William Rook & Hopkins - This was a tragic claim involving the wrongful death of Mr. and Mrs. Sexton's three year old daughter, Lauren, who was killed instantly in a motor vehicle collision. Because Lauren was killed instantly, there was no recoverable damages for pain and suffering. Mr. Keane presented a claim on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Sexton for loss of society and companionship. Such cases were thought to have a value in Woodbury County, Iowa, of between $100,000 and $150,000. Insurance company's final offer was $110,000. After a successful jury verdict, Mr. Keane was able to conclude this case for $650,000.
Cowan v. Flannery
Mr. Keane represented a young man who was involved in a motor vehicle collision and received soft tissue injuries resulting in chiropractic treatment and expenses of approximately $3,841.60. Plaintiff testified that he benefited from chiropractic care. The jury awarded $17,220 just for future chiropractic care. Although this was not a big dollar case, Mr. Keane was pleased to help his client obtain a verdict which would allow him to continue to receive the chiropractic care which provided relief.
Denney v. Simmons and State of Iowa
Mr. Keane represented a young man who was being transported by the State of Iowa in the back of a van. The state employee driver of the transport vehicle caused an intersection collision when traveling through Fort Dodge, Iowa. The State of Iowa disputed the severity of Plaintiff's injuries and offered only $10,000 to settle. Plaintiff sustained soft tissue injuries to his neck. The jury returned verdict for $77,099.
Bostwick v. Stone Container
The Plaintiff was injured when he unloading a truck which had been negligently loaded by another person who was not the Plaintiff's co-employee. Plaintiff sustained a fractured jaw. The jury returned verdict of in favor of Mr. Keane's client for the sum of $105,000.
Maiden and Granado v. Goosman and Coffee King, Inc.
Mr. Keane's client was injured in a motorcycle/motor vehicle collision. The jury awarded damages of $104,255.
Verzani vs. Vanderpol - Mr. Keane's client was a young woman in her 30's who was rear ended in a motor vehicle collision. There was not a great deal of damage to the client's vehicle, but Mr. Keane presented evidence on behalf of his client that injuries were sustained to her neck with persistent headaches (occipital neuralgia). Client received chiropractic care and incurred approximately $4,000 in chiropractic expenses together with lost income of approximately $18,000. The insurance company for the Defendant disputed the severity of the impact and obtained an orthopedic surgeon who testified that the client did not have permanent injury. Mr. Keane presented testimony from the treating chiropractor regarding the injuries sustained. The insurance company's final offer was $12,000. The jury returned a verdict for $228,000.00. The Defendant appealed this decision to the Iowa supreme court which ruled in favor of Mr. Keane's client.
Renken vs. Kelhower - Mr. Keane's client was a man in his 40's who was driving his pickup in a northerly direction on Highway 60 in Sioux County, Iowa. A teenager riding in the back of the pickup heading in the opposite direction tossed a sealed bag of water at the windshield of Mr. Renken's pickup, breaking the windshield and causing glass to penetrate Mr. Renken's right eye. Client saw an optometrist who removed glass from his eye. Although Mr. Renken incurred only $118.00 in medical expenses, he did have continuing discomfort in his right eye as a result of a corneal abrasion. The Defendant's insurance company disputed the severity of any claimed injury and, based on medical expenses of only $118.00, offered $500.00 the week before trial. The conventional thinking of attorneys and insurance companies in the 1980's in Sioux County, Iowa, was that jury's were very conservative and would not award much money. The day trial started, the Defendant insurance company increased its final offer to $2,500.00. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Mr. Keane's client in the sum of $35,000.00, which with interest totaled $42,000.00. Sometimes, even with smaller cases, it is necessary that the injured client's attorney be willing to take a case all the way to trial in order to obtain full and fair compensation. The Defendant appealed this case to the Iowa supreme court which upheld the jury's verdict in favor of Mr. Keane's client.
Disclaimer: The above jury verdicts are excellent results. Mr. Keane is not able to guarantee similar results in every case.
