Fourth Circuit Upholds $2.5 Million Award in Amputation Case (1)

A North Carolina farm failed to convince a federal appeals court to throw out a $2.5 million jury award for a worker who lost his leg after an on-the-job injury.

Cox Brothers Farms lacked sufficient evidence to overturn the jury’s finding that it was negligent under the doctrine of last clear chance, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled.

While the jury found that employee Robbie Plyler and Cox both committed negligence leading up to Plyler’s injury, they decided the North Carolina-based farm was ultimately liable because it had the last clear chance ...