Shiner Law Group wins $10 million judgment in Volusia County motorcycle crash case

Shiner Law Group secured a $10,006,027.86 judgment for Lisa Guzzi after a bench trial in Volusia County, where a motorcycle crash left her with a below-the-knee amputation and other permanent injuries. The ruling underscores how Florida courts can value catastrophic injury claims that reshape a victim’s life and future medical needs. Why it matters: - The judgment exceeds $10 million and reflects the long-term cost of catastrophic motorcycle injuries. - The ruling covers Lisa Guzzi’s permanent medical needs, lost mobility, and the life changes tied to the crash. - The case highlights how courts may assess liability and damages when injuries include amputation, multiple surgeries, and lifelong care. What happened: - Shiner Law Group obtained a $10,006,027.86 judgment for Lisa Guzzi after a bench trial before Judge Mary G. Jolley in the Seventh Judicial Circuit. - The court entered judgment against defendant Arlayn Michele Charles in Volusia County, Florida. - Guzzi was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle operated by her boyfriend, Jason Knaust, when the crash occurred. - Guzzi said her last memory before the collision was commenting on a sunset during the ride. - Guzzi woke up in a hospital room and learned that her left leg had been amputated. The details: - Trial evidence showed a traumatic below-the-knee amputation of Guzzi’s left leg. - Guzzi also sustained fractures to her left femur, pelvis, and acetabulum. - Her hospitalization included multiple surgeries, skin graft procedures, and a pulmonary embolism. - Medical testimony established that the injuries are permanent. - Medical testimony also established that Guzzi will need future medical care for the rest of her life. - Before the crash, Guzzi lived an active outdoor lifestyle that included offshore fishing, boating, hiking, biking, traveling, and other physically demanding activities. - Trial testimony showed that many of those activities are now impossible or much harder for Guzzi. - Shiner Law Group represented Guzzi throughout the litigation and at trial. Between the lines: - The size of the judgment signals that the court accepted a broad view of damages tied to permanent disability and loss of quality of life. - The trial record focused not only on the medical harm, but also on the disruption to Guzzi’s daily life and long-term independence. - David Shiner said the judgment reflects how catastrophic injuries affect every part of a person’s life. - Joseph A. Mendelsohn said the case was about more than medical records and surgeries and that the court weighed testimony, medical evidence, and the permanent nature of the injuries. - Stratton Smiley said the testimony showed who Guzzi was before the crash and how much changed afterward. What’s next: - Guzzi’s future care needs remain part of the long-term impact reflected in the judgment. - The case stands as a major result for a motorcycle passenger injury claim in Florida. - Shiner Law Group said it remains focused on representing victims of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death claims, and other negligence-related matters. The bottom line: - A Volusia County bench trial produced a more than $10 million judgment after a motorcycle crash left Lisa Guzzi with permanent, life-altering injuries.