ST. LOUIS – A woman seriously injured in a crash involving a City of St. Louis worker two years ago was recently awarded more than $500,000 in a lawsuit, though the city is now appealing the verdict.
On July 16, a jury returned a $1.16 million verdict in favor of Tara Straussner, though the city’s liability was capped around $517,000 under state statutes.
According to original court filings, on March 7, 2023, a St. Louis city employee crashed into Straussner while on duty. The employee was driving westbound on Loughborough Avenue when he ran off the roadway and struck a light pole. After that collision, the driver swerved back into traffic and crossed the westbound lanes into the eastbound lanes. The driver struck three vehicles, including one Straussner was driving.
Straussner suffered a permanent brain injury, a torn meniscus, three herniated lumbar discs, and lacerations requiring stitches, according to her attorneys at Brown & Crouppen.
On Sept. 2, St. Louis City attorney Nathan Puckett filed a “notice of appeal” with the Missouri Court of Appeals. The city is challenging several evidentiary aspects of the trial, including whether jurors should have heard certain expert and medical testimony, whether Straussner was allowed to seek more in damages than had been disclosed before trial, and whether closing arguments included claims not supported by evidence.
The case now moves to the Missouri Court of Appeals, which could order a new trial or uphold the original verdict. If the appellate court agrees with the city’s arguments, it could order a new trial. If the verdict is upheld, the city would be required to pay the $517,000 judgment.
A briefing schedule has not yet been set but could be issued within or around one year, according to Brown & Crouppen Attorney Lisa Tsaucoumangos, who is representing Straussner along with Abigail Walquist.
FOX 2 also reached out to Puckett on the case, but our requests for comment were not returned as of this story’s initial publication.
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