JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Six years after a DUI driver caused a crash on Interstate 95 that killed a JSO bailiff, a jury awarded her family $30 million in a civil lawsuit.
Kim Johnston was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2019 after she was convicted of DUI manslaughter and DUI resulting in serious bodily injury. Now, she also has to pay $30.5 million to the family of Cathy Adams, who was killed in the crash.
Johnston was specifically named in the civil lawsuit, so she is solely responsible for paying the Adams family $30 million.
RELATED | Driver gets 15 years in DUI crash that killed JSO bailiff, injured officer
Attorney Dennis Dore represented the Adams family.
“It was a civil suit for the wrongful death of Cathy Adams in addition to the injuries to Jack Adams. He had some pretty devastating injuries,” Dore said.
In December 2018, Cathy, her husband Jack, and their two kids were on I-95 driving back to Jacksonville from Orlando when their SUV was hit by a car driven by Johnston. Cathy died. Her husband suffered a broken spinal cord that left him temporarily paralyzed, and their children were also injured.
Johnston was arrested on suspicion of DUI then later convicted and sentenced to prison for Cathy’s death and the injuries she caused to Cathy’s husband and kids.
And now six years later, Johnston is ordered to pay the Adams family $30.5 million.
Dore said this verdict sends a strong message to people about the consequences of driving drunk, especially when drunk driving injures or kills someone.
“It should, I mean this woman was 0.126 when her blood was drawn six hours after the crash. We had expert testimony that she was above a 0.20 at the time of the crash, almost three times the legal limit. Literally, an accident looking for a place to happen,” Dore said.
Since the lawsuit specifically went after Johnston, the question now is, can she afford to pay the $30 million? And if not, how will Cathy’s husband and children ever receive the full amount?
“Very good question, so the judgment is ultimately against the driver, however, there are some plans in place. In my opinion, there were some things her insurance company did that were absolutely wrong in trying to protect her interest and we’re going to hold them accountable for that,” Dore said.
MORE | Community mourns, support pours in after loss of JSO bailiff
This means Johnston’s insurance company is potentially the next target of a separate lawsuit that could require the company to pay the entire $30.5 million.
A lawsuit against Johnston’s insurance company could also require the company to pay the remaining balance after Johnston pays what she can.
For example, if she could only afford to pay $1 million, her insurance company could be on the hook for $29.5 million.
