Howard County jury awards over $1.5 million to a woman represented by Decorah lawyer Nick Rowley

A Howard County jury has awarded what might be the highest damages ever awarded in that county in a case argued by Decorah attorney Nick Rowley.

The case involves Kelsey Bronner, who was involved in a traffic accident April 30, 2008.  She sued the owner of the vehicle she was in, Reicks Farms, Inc., and asked for the business to pay her medical expenses and to pay for past and future physical and mental pain.

The driver of the vehicle was ticketed after the accident.  Reicks Farms, Inc.'s lawyers did not dispute that the driver was operating with the consent of Reicks Farms, but they disputed the extent of Bronner's injuries.

After deliberating part of Thursday and part of Friday last week, the Howard County jury returned a verdict awarding Bronner a total of $241,008 for past medical expenses, past physical and mental pain and suffering and disfigurement and past loss of full mind and body.  It then awarded Bronner a total of $1,318,130 for future physical and mental pain and suffering.  That brought the total award to $1,559,189.00

The trial in Howard County was presided over by Circuit Judge Margaret Lingreen.