The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a jury award of over 100 thousand dollars each to two young children for the loss of their mother in a car crash in Owen Sound.
The case involved the death of 30 year old Michelle Vokes of Tara, who died when her van was struck by a car driven by Randy Palmer of Lion’s Head, six years ago.
That crash happened on the Sunset Strip in Owen Sound when the Court heard Palmer was driving nearly 120 kilometres an hour on 50-K zone..
The jury awarded 117-thousand to Michelle Vokes’ daughter Madison, who was five at the time of the crash, and 135-thousand to her other daughter Abigail who was three.
Vokes Family Lawyer Adam Little tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the judgement is the largest every for a child who lost a parent.
Michelle’s husband, Bradley Vokes was awarded 90 thousand dollars by the jury.
ING insurance — which is now known as Intact — appealed the original verdict alleging the jury’s award was “gross and excessive”.
The insurance company also claimed that Michelle Vokes was at least partially responsible for the fatal crash.
The court dismissed that appeal, and the surviving family members will receive 481 thousand dollars in total for their loss.
