South Carolina Jury Awards $1M to Victim of Drunk Driver

February 10, 2016

A Richland County jury has awarded about $1 million in punitive damages to a woman injured in a car crash involving a repeat drunken driver.

The State newspaper reported that a jury last week also awarded Jami Allison Owens $89,000 in actual damages for unspecified injuries suffered in the Oct. 1, 2011 crash after a University of South Carolina football game.

Attorney David Williams of Orangeburg said he had urged the jury to award $1 million in order to “send a message” about the irresponsibility of drunk driving and saving lives. The jury decided to award Owens $1,000,001 in punitive damages.

Bradley Lanford, attorney for defendant James Boulware, declined comment. Court records indicate that the crash resulted in Boulware’s second conviction for driving under the influence.

Topics Personal Auto South Carolina

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