A federal judge in Tarrant County awarded a man and his wife $26.5 million in their lawsuit against the U.S. government over a car accident involving a U.S. Postal Service truck.
Michael Le became quadriplegic after a crash with a USPS truck in May 2018 and sued the United States. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor of the Fort Worth division of the Northern District of Texas handed down the verdict and judgment in the case on Monday after a bench trial.
According to the judge’s order, Le has ankylosing spondylitis, “a spinal disease that can lead to the spine becoming rigidly fused together over time.” The spine can become more susceptible to fractures from low-impact collisions, which can result in highly unstable fractures, O’Connor wrote.
While Le had complications due to this condition, he was still able to work, do daily activities and regularly exercise, the judge’s order says. After the May 2018 crash, however, he cannot do any of those activities, according to evidence presented in court