After a nearly two-week trial in Texas, Mayer partners Roger Oppenheim and Scott Novak secured a favorable result for Knight Transportation in a high-stakes wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit.

The case stemmed from a serious highway intersection collision involving a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle. The devastating crash resulted in the loss of life of a teenage passenger and serious injuries (hand amputation, neck fracture and head injury) to the driver of the car.

Defense Verdict Reflects Jury’s Close Review of Evidence

A key element of the defense was Mayer’s detailed examination of both drivers’ behavior, combined with expert testimony to help the jury understand accident reconstruction and human factors. After hearing the evidence, the jury assigned 60% of the responsibility to the car's driver, which precluded any recovery on his claims. The remaining 40% was allocated to Knight Transportation on the mother’s wrongful death claim, resulting in a monetary award of approximately $1 million, significantly less than the plaintiffs’ $56 million combined jury demand and below the defense’s suggested numbers.

In a courtroom environment where emotions were high and the facts complex, Mayer’s team remained focused and fact-driven — achieving a result that balanced the legal issues with the human story behind them. The jury’s careful consideration and ultimate decision reflect a recognition of those efforts.

The case underscores Mayer’s ability to navigate complex, high-exposure litigation with both precision and respect for the human dimensions of each matter.