The trial: Lennig v. CRST, et al.
The attorney: Brian Panish
Case summary: Matthew and Michael Lennig were injured in a head-on collision with a semi-truck helmed by a CRST driver. The trucking firm admitted the driver’s negligence but disputed the severity of the brothers’ claimed injuries, including the traumatic brain injury Michael Lennig claimed rendered him unable to perform his former duties as a motorcycle police officer.
The witness: Rosa Lennig
Synopsis: Panish opens testimony from the plaintiff's wife, Rosa Lennig, by asking if she is nervous, joking with her about asking her age, etc. His conversational tone helps allay her clear case of nerves on the stand. Panish then walks Lennig throughout her relationship with her husband, from the time they met, through counseling they sought to be better parents to their son, outings they took together, etc. He focuses this portion of questioning on the plaintiff's love for his family and the time they spent together, providing specific memorable anecdotes, supported by photos that help drive home the theme of loss. Panish then moves questioning to the accident and its after-effects, including the emotional changes the TBI has wrought on the plaintiff and how they have affected her and her son. The witness becomes emotional in the testimony, and closes by noting that the biggest change she has seen in her husband is his anger and sadness over not being able to be the type of husband and father that he had been before the collision.
The verdict: $52.84 million total verdict, including $19.24 million to Michael Lennig.
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