News

SUN SENTINEL, November 8, 1985

"Disabled couple get $3.5 million"

by Cecilie Ditlev-Simonsen

A Broward Circuit Court jury Thursday awarded $3.5 million to a couple who were left permanently disabled after a car crash with an allegedly drunken driver.

Jane and Charles Gray of Pompano Beach were traveling west on Hillsboro Boulevard on April 4, 1984 between Florida's Turnpike and State Road 7 when their car collided with an automobile driven by Cynthia Lewis, 20, according to Robert Kelley, Gray's attorney.

Kelley and Scott Schlesinger, who represented Mrs. Gray, filed a lawsuit for the couple against Lewis in November 1984 and asked for $4 million in damages.

After a four-day trial that ended Thursday, the jury awarded the Grays $1.75 million each.

Charles Kessler, Lewis' attorney, could not be contacted for comment Thursday.

Lewis of Sunrise, admitted liability for the accident during the trial that began Monday Circuit Judge John G. Ferris said.

Lewis did not admit that she had been intoxicated Kelley said, but tests taken the night of the collision showed that her blood contained an alcohol level of almost twice the state's legal limit of .10.

Mrs. Gray, 58, a mother of five, suffered fractures of both arms and legs and most of her ribs in the collision and is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, Schlesinger said.

Gray, 60, whose left arm and leg and facial bones were broken in the collision, spent two months at Boca Community Hospital in Boca Raton. He now can walk but is permanently disabled, Schlesinger, said.

Sheldon J. Schlesinger, P.A. represents clients throughout the state of Florida including the cities of Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Carol City, Cooper City, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Hollywood, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Miramar, Miami, Oakland Park, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Pompano Beach, and Rivera Beach

Broward County • Miami-Dade County • Palm Beach County