Judge awards $2.65 million to motorcyclist injured in crash after evidence of major medical bills and ongoing impairment

A Clayton County State Court judge entered a judgment on Nov. 12 awarding $2,648,929.90 to Tammy McDuffie, who testified she sustained multiple fractures and other injuries when her motorcycle was struck by a vehicle. McDuffie described being pinned beneath the vehicle, losing consciousness, and later being treated at Grady Memorial Hospital; counsel introduced medical bills and surgical records as exhibits.

The court admitted medical bills and related physician invoices that totaled roughly $220,929.92 for hospital care, imaging and physician services. Plaintiff's counsel asked the court to award $220,929.92 for past medicals, $250,000 a year for three years of past pain-and-suffering ($750,000), and $50,000 per year times a mortality factor for future pain-and-suffering ($1,678,000) — producing the $2,648,929.90 figure counsel requested. The court found the medical evidence and testimony sufficient and entered judgment for that amount plus court costs.

McDuffie testified about ongoing pain, spasms, limited mobility in her leg, wrist impairment and the effect on daily life. She said she had undergone surgery with implanted hardware and continues to experience spasms and limitations that she and counsel characterized as permanent.

The judge admitted exhibit evidence of the medical bills and directed the clerk to enter the judgment; the court noted the pending criminal citation for operating with an expired motorcycle license would be handled in the criminal calendar and that the state has an independent right to be heard on that matter.