News

January 18, 2019 (New Bern, N.C.)—Former N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Justice and his wife were awarded $7 million in a federal jury trial against Greyhound Bus Lines after a bus collided into his patrol SUV on I-40/85 on Christmas Eve in 2014.

“The jury was emotional when the verdict was read, just like we were,” said Justice’s attorney and James, McElroy & Diehl partner J. Alex Heroy to The Charlotte Observer.

Trooper Chris Justice was investigating a fatal accident on I-40/85 in Alamance County when the Greyhound bus plowed into the scene despite numerous flashing emergency vehicle lights, said Heroy, who represented the Justices for four years, along with James, McElroy & Diehl attorneys Gary S. Hemric and Jennifer M. Houti.

Justice and his wife Lisa received the jury’s award for compensatory damages after a two-week federal trial in New Bern. Justice remains unable to work due to physical and mental injuries and will never be able to rejoin the Highway Patrol.

“First responders put their lives at risk for us every day. We were so proud to represent Trooper Justice and his family,” said Heroy. “Their lives were changed forever by this terrible incident, but we were so glad to achieve such a wonderful outcome for them.”

Read more at The Charlotte Observer, and additional coverage can be found here:

• News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
• The State (Columbia, S.C.)
• WRAL (Raleigh, N.C. NBC affiliate)
• WFMY (Greensboro, N.C. CBS affiliate)
• WNCN (Goldsboro, N.C. CBS Affiliate)