$1.1 Million Verdict After Teen With Learner's Permit T-Bones Woman, Who Needs Three Neck Surgeries

The collision happened when a 16-year-old, holding only a learner's permit and driving without the required adult supervision, ran into the plaintiff's vehicle in a T-bone impact. The force of the crash left her with serious cervical injuries that would require three separate surgical procedures to address.

Before trial, the defense's position was that she was not as injured as she claimed. Their medical expert pointed to her history of chronic neck problems, arguing the surgeries were rooted in a preexisting condition rather than the crash itself.

The defense made an offer of $150,000 to settle. She turned it down.

TSR Injury Law partners Rich Ruohonen and Jenny Olson took the case to a jury. At trial, Ruohonen methodically cross-examined the defense's medical expert, drawing out the weaknesses in the preexisting-condition theory. Ruohonen later described it as one of the best cross-examinations of his career.

The jury sided with the plaintiff and returned a verdict of $1.1 million, more than seven times the defense's settlement offer. The result was one of two seven-figure verdicts Ruohonen secured within a two-month span in 2024, a year in which he was named a Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year for the sixth time.