Kyle Pugh Wins $26.5 Million Judgment for Man Paralyzed in Postal Truck Accident
Experienced trial lawyer C. Kyle Pugh won a $26.5 million judgment for a Grand Prairie, Texas, man who was left quadriplegic after a U.S. Postal Service truck struck his car while reversing down his residential street.
The final judgment, handed down on July 24, 2023, by the Hon. Judge Reed O’Connor in the Fort Worth Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, followed a four-day bench trial in April. Mr. Pugh represented Michael Le and his wife, Dung Le, in the lawsuit against the United States of America, based on the life-changing injuries Mr. Le suffered in the crash.
Evidence showed that a U.S. Postal Service worker, delivering mail in the rain on a residential street, could not fit a parcel into a community mailbox. Instead of exiting her vehicle and walking the parcel back two houses to the intended residence, she reversed her postal truck, striking Mr. Le’s vehicle. Mr. Le had just backed out of his driveway to pick up his son from school.
“While this judgment in no way makes the Le family whole, it will assist them in providing the best care possible for Mr. Le and his family”
Mr. Le had a pre-existing condition, ankylosing spondylitis, which resulted in brittle vertebrae. Although the collision was low impact, it resulted in a severe fracture to Mr. Le’s cervical spine.
Mr. Le was transported to a local hospital and then taken by helicopter to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, where surgeons attempted to repair his severed spine. The severe fracture, coupled with Mr. Le’s pre-existing condition, resulted in Mr. Le becoming quadriplegic. He remained in the hospital for months before returning home.
Prior to the accident, Mr. Le was gainfully employed and actively raising two high school aged sons with his wife. Mr. Le ran several miles a week and spent his free time at his son’s sporting events. He now requires round-the-clock care from his wife and their two sons.
“We proved that this tragic accident was foreseeable and preventable,” Mr. Pugh said. “While this judgment in no way makes the Le family whole, it will assist them in providing the best care possible for Mr. Le and his family. Negligence occurs every day and lives are forever changed. I am humbled by the strength and character of the Le family.”
The final judgment issued by Judge O’Connor includes nearly $24 million based upon Mr. Le’s past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and intangible damages. Mrs. Le was awarded more than $2.6 million for past and future loss of consortium and loss of services.
In his 40-page verdict, Judge O’Connor praised the work of the attorneys on the case:
“Both parties were represented by attorneys of the highest caliber, who advocated for their clients with diligence and excellence,” Judge O’Connor wrote. “Given the complexity of the factual and legal issues presented in this case, the Court is grateful for the hard work of counsel on both sides, who exemplify the very best of the legal profession.”
Dallas attorneys Kellie McKee, John Schulman, and Margaret Schulman served as co-counsel to Mr. Pugh.
This judgment has received substantial media coverage, including stories in Texas Lawyer, Texas Lawbook, Law360 (subscription required), and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.