40Th Anniversary Edition

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE INSIDE PAID Finding Hidden Evidence PERMIT #450 pages 1-2 JACKSONVILLE, FL SUVs Safer After Lawsuits P ROFESSIONAL A SSOCIATION page 3 This is the twenty third periodic Recoveries Transform Lives Profile s& A TTORNEYS AT L AW page 4 report of Pajcic & Pajcic Log Truck Menace One Independent Drive, Suite 1900 pages 5-6 THIS SPECIAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OUTLINES SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AT PAJCIC & PAJCIC FROM 1974 TO TODAY Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Triumph or Tragedy Precedents Ph: (904) 358-8881 page 7 Fax: (904) 354-1180 “Pajcic Families” page 7 PAJCIC & PAJCIC 40 TH Email: [email protected] $4 Million for Education www.pajcic.com page 8 Habijax House ANNIVERSARY Edition page 8 William S. Burns, Jr. Timeline of Service Gary and Steve Pajcic started Pajcic & Pajcic in 1974, the year Steve was elected to the Florida pages 1-8 Lee T. Griffin Legislature representing the south half of Duval County. Gary came from the state attorney’s Robert J. Link office, and Steve from the city’s largest law firm at the time. Pajcic & Pajcic got its first Curry G. Pajcic multi-million dollar verdict in Panama City in 1985 and has since handled more than Curtis S. Pajcic 8,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases. Gary died unexpectedly seven years Gary C. Pajcic (1947-2006) ago, but his brother Steve has carried on the practice with three of Gary’s sons and Michael S. Pajcic his own. The firm includes seven other attorneys, all of whom except the youngest Seth A. Pajcic have attained the AV Stephen J. Pajcic, III Raymond P. Reid, Jr. Preeminent Peer Review Pajcic & Pajcic is one of the few firms on Benjamin E. Richard Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Martindale-Hubbell’s list of Top Ranked Firms Thomas F. Slater in the Southeastern United States to receive William A. Bald, of Counsel the perfect 5.0 rating in client satisfaction.

Every case is unique, the results in one case do not necessarily indicate the value of another case, and most cases result in lower recovery. It should not be assumed that your case will have as beneficial a result. Recoveries are before deduction for attorneys’ fees and expenses. Verdicts are before reduction for comparative negligence, setoffs, and high-low agreements. Safety changes can be the result of many factors other than the cases mentioned.

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– FINDING HIDDEN EVIDENCE THE KEY TO $10 MILLION AWARDS –

It was only after the families of Jane Doe and John Doe hired Pajcic & Pajcic that the full truth became known and fair recoveries could be obtained of more than THE TRUTH ABOUT $11 million for Jane and nearly $10 million for John’s widow and children. THE TRUCK DRIVER IN JOHN’S CASE THE SECRET TO JANE’S CASE Eight years after Jane Doe’s crash and The accident left Jane Doe face down and barely one mile south on I-95, John Doe was killed breathing in the middle of I-95. The crash report put all in a fiery crash when a southbound tractor the blame on Jane because her car had swerved across trailer hit the concrete divider and catapulted four lanes of traffic in front of oncoming tractor trailers. into the northbound lane on top of John’s Jane could not dispute the report because she was pick-up. The truck driver blamed a phantom comatose for several weeks and never regained any vehicle and the investigating officers found him memory of the crash. credible and unimpaired. Pajcic & Pajcic could not believe that Jane Doe, The truth about the driver who killed John a 36-year old mother of two, could be as reckless as the Doe proved to be just as shocking as the fiery crash report concluded. The legal battle to unravel the After the case was over Jane sent Pajcic & Pajcic Pajcic & Pajcic also secured crash itself. While neither the accident investigator enigma of how and why this tragedy occurred and to get a thank you that touched the hearts of all who worked products liability recoveries – nor the trucking company who hired the driver justice for Jane involved eight different lawsuits, nine on the case: found anything suspicious about the truck driver, mediations, one jury trial and seven different settlements. one because Jane’s seat and Jane was ejected Pajcic & Pajcic’s investigation proved that he was seatbelt system allowed her to be through the back ejected through a back window, window into the a stay-up-all-night, sleep-all-day crack cocaine The major recoveries came when Pajcic & Pajcic and a second one because the middle of I-95. addict who had fallen asleep at the wheel in the met with a traffic homicide investigator. Buried in armored car had a blind spot middle of I-95 in downtown Jacksonville. his field notes was a witness statement with a in its passenger’s side The trucking company could easily have suspicious denial of involvement: view mirror. found out about the driver’s prior problems The recoveries with drugs and driving, but, instead of checking have given the driver’s record, the terminal manager had Jane financial actually fabricated a background check and security and the made up a road test. ability to pay Angered by the egregious for the help she conduct, John ’s widow needs every day. Jane had the Most importantly, courage to follow The whole accident sequence had been started by despite her profound Pajcic & Pajcic’s the armored car suddenly cutting in front of Jane and impairments, Jane has recommendation causing her to swerve and lose control of her car. been able to continue and hold out for The armored car company only had $1 million of to provide motherly the fair value of Jane Doe insurance, but its insurance company refused to pay those care to her daughters $9,650,000. limits when demanded by Pajcic & Pajcic. It ended up as they have grown paying much more than that after a bad faith trial. into young adulthood.

––––– RECOVERIES ARE BEFORE DEDUCTION FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES AND EXPENSES. MOST CASES RESULT IN A LOWER RECOVERY. IT SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT YOUR CASE WILL HAVE AS BENEFICIAL A RESULT. VERDICTS ARE BEFORE REDUCTION FOR COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE, SETOFFS, AND HIGH-LOW AGREEMENTS. –––––

1974 1985 1991 1993 1997 PAJCIC & PAJCIC Gary and Steve Pajcic form Pajcic $2.5 million verdict for $8 million verdict for $1 million charitable gift After five successful appeals, $7 million TIMELINE OF SERVICE & Pajcic with a commitment to factory worker’s loss of construction worker who for scholarships for Paxon from seven different defendants for brain service to clients and the safety leg in product liability suffered brain injury High School graduates. injury to young software executive. of the public with the faith that lawsuit for unsafe design from fall because of Within four years, UNF The lawsuit resulted in new signs CLIENTS, SAFETY & CHARITY good results will follow. of conveyor system. third party negligence. has 35 Pajcic Scholars. marking the entrance and exit.

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SUVs SAFER AFTER DUVAL LAWSUITS AND $10 MILLION VERDICT MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RECOVERIES TRANSFORM LIVES OF CATASTROPHICALLY INJURED CLIENTS The deadly combination of engineer himself, John felt especially Firestone detreads and Ford betrayed by deadly defects in the Jane Doe was a college freshman with a The wonderful news is Explorer rollovers existed for SUV design. He was determined promising future headed to Atlanta, Georgia that the lawsuit recoveries, almost a decade before the fatal to get justice for Jane and to do for Martin Luther King Day celebrations when combined with Jane ’s Jacksonville crashes involving something to prevent others from a bale of hay fell out of a farm truck just ahead remarkable character and Jane Doe on November 20, 1999, suffering the same tragedy. of her on I-20. Jane’s classmate swerved to personality, have allowed and John Doe on July 3 , 2000. In taking on the case, Pajcic avoid the hay and the car slammed into the Jane to live a rewarding Even though there had been & Pajcic decided to focus attention concrete median. and happy life despite her very little publicity about the on the weak roof structure and Although everyone in the car was wearing catastrophic injury. Of problem at that time because of spent over half a million dollars her seatbelt, Jane’s three classmates course, there is regret for the manufacturers’ efforts to keep on testing and experts to prove suffered only minor injuries, while what might have been, but it all quiet and confidential, Pajcic just how deadly the defect was. Jane hit her head on the ceiling now more than 20 years & Pajcic was able to recognize the After four weeks of trial, the Duval of the car and broke her later Jane owns her own defects when the families called jury returned a verdict of more than neck, leaving her a beautiful home, drives her about their tragedies. When Pajcic $10 million against Ford. John has quadriplegic for the own specially designed & Pajcic filed suit on July 24, 2000, since gone on to complete his Ph.D. rest of her life. van and is able to pay newspapers across the country in engineering at UF and is now a Jane’s crestfallen for all the services and carried the Associated Press story, professor at Valpairiso University. parents asked Pajcic equipment she needs. and Gary Pajcic appeared on The Today Show to & Pajcic for help. Jane comes and publicize the danger to unsuspecting SUV owners. After some coverage goes as she pleases Two weeks later Ford issued a recall for the disputes with the farm and is a productive defective Firestone tires. owner’s insurance member of her family, But detreading tires were not the only problem. company, Pajcic & Pajcic church and community. One year after the recall, recently wed Jane and secured those policy limits Jane ’s situation is John Doe were in for Jane. typical for catastrophically their 2000 Explorer injured clients where Pajcic & Pajcic on I-95 when an RV is able to pursue multiple avenues and secure a forced Jane into a When investigation revealed a Dynamic tests clearly showed the roof defect. just and fair recovery. The client would always sudden maneuver defect in the seatbelt buckle that pray that the accident had never happened, and their Explorer had caused it to unlatch during but the lawsuits pay for the expensive, but rolled over five times. Since the Duval verdict, Explorers and other SUVs impact, Pajcic & Pajcic sued necessary, equipment and services that make Everyone was have much stronger roofs. Indeed, federal regulations the foreign car manufacturer such a difference to everyday life when every little wearing a seatbelt, have doubled the strength requirements for SUV roofs. and seatbelt maker. task is a challenge. Just as important, a just and and John and Jane’s SUVs also now have stability systems that greatly The cases resolved, and fair recovery helps restore independence and sister Doe escaped reduce the risk of rollover, and side curtain airbags the design flaw in the buckle dignity to individuals who fear their lives will with only minor injuries, that deploy in rollover situations to give additiona l was later fixed. be a burden to loved ones. but the roof over the protection to the occupant. driver’s seat crushed in John Doe and Pajcic & Pajcic are proud of any like a tin can, fracturing small role they may have played in these safety (For other examples of how multi-million dollar Jane’s skull and killing enhancements. Pajcic and Pajcic is continuing its recoveries can make such a difference in her instantly. Jane’s death vigilant pursuit of other deadly defects with cases peoples’ lives go to www.pajcic.com.) devastated John. As an now pending against tire and car manufacturers.

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2002 $3.4 million from sign companies Recall of Firestone tires on Ford Multimillion dollar malpractice recovery $2.1 million verdict for child’s $2.5 million for 65 year old $1 million for teacher because sign posts did not break Explorers two weeks after nationwide for medication error from a decimal in drowning due to inadequate fencing Jacksonville woman who bonuses at Annie R Morgan away as intended. Lawsuit publicity surrounding Pajcic & Pajcic’s wrong place. Surgeon agrees to change at apartment pool. Lawsuit gives burned to death in her car Elementary School. Within results in new DOT safety filing of two wrongful death lawsuits his discharge procedures as condition needed publicity to number one after a crash. Newer models two years school’s FCAT procedures throughout Florida. against Ford and Firestone. of settlement. killer of Florida children under five. have safer fuel tanks. grade goes from F to A.

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PAJCIC PROFILE DESPITE MILLION DOLLAR VERDICTS LOG TRUCKS REMAIN A DARK AND DEADLY MENACE

They are a calamitous curse of North Florida: poorly lit log trucks NASSAU COUNTY, $12.9 MILLION VERDICT ANOTHER DEADLY LOG TRUCK slowly pulling out onto rural highways in front of oncoming traffic in the darkness before dawn. Jane Doe suffered a catastrophic brain injury when the One year later another poorly lit log truck claimed yet car she was in slammed into the side of the log truck trying another victim, a young father on his way to work at the to make a u-turn on U.S. 1 just JEA plant in Jacksonville. PUTNAM COUNTY, 1988 John ’s surgeon referred him to Pajcic & north of Hilliard about an The log truck did not have Pajcic to try to find the log truck and hold it a strobe beacon light but John Doe was a 30 year old son accountable. Pajcic & Pajcic obtained the list only a weaker pancake light. of migrant farmworkers, living in of the first trucks at the Palatka mill that The truck was going less Crescent City, Florida, working nights morning, identified which trucks might have than 45 mph because it had to support his young family, and during been coming from the direction of San Mateo, just turned back onto U.S. 1 the day attending community college and then obtained scrapings from a left rear Curry Gary Pajcic wants to after bypassing that same in St. Augustine on veteran’s benefits. tire rim that showed evidence of impact with continue the family tradition of Hilliard weigh station. In the predawn hours of March 15, 1988, John ’s motorcycle. public service. Curry is one of John was on his motorcycle headed up three persons whose names have The paper mill settled presuit for its role in U.S. 17 to go to class when a log truck the case, but the logging company continued been forwarded to President pulled onto the highway right in front Obama for the position of U.S. to deny involvement. After the jury returned of him. John ’s motorcycle hit the left hour before sunrise. Jane recovered enough to The young Attorney for the Middle District a verdict for John , its insurance company superficially look and seem normal and to complete father did not see of Florida, the second largest in rear tire of the truck and went down in voluntarily paid its limits plus the excess verdict. her senior year at Hilliard Senior High, but the crash the truck in time the nation. The three were the middle of the highway. John has gone on to live a happy and John was paralyzed and would have left her with diminished capacity for judgment and the and plowed into its Weaker Pancake Strobe Beacon selected by the Federal productive life in Palm Coast. In fact, the Light Light need for around the clock supervision of her activities. rear. The logs shattered Nominating Commission and become road kill but for the heroic efforts of a local newspaper honored John for his role The insurance company for the log truck declined to the windshield and impaled the father of four children. approved by Senators Nelson Good Samaritan who stopped his car in the in fashioning a political pay its policy limits on demand, and Pajcic & Pajcic filed The defense had strong arguments for comparative and Rubio. Curry showed his middle of the highway to direct traffic around compromise on the racially leadership early as captain of suit. After a three week trial in March 2011, a Nassau negligence based on speed, seatbelt usage and read-end John . The log truck never slowed down, heated issue of a his football, basketball and County jury returned a verdict of $12.9 million. impact. Nevertheless, perhaps knowing about the $13 but presumably ended up in one of those new name for the baseball teams at Episcopal Jane did not get all of that because the jury did assign million verdict after the insurance company refused to pay coveted places near the front of the line city’s elementary High School. Despite being an some blame to her and some to DOT. Nevertheless, she in Jane ’s case, the insurance company in the latest case at the paper mill that morning. school. ardent Seminole fan like all the ended up with far more than the logging company’s timely tendered its policy Pajcics, Curry graduated with insurance limits. With limits on demand by honors from the University of the recovery Jane and Pajcic & Pajcic. Florida Law School where he co-authored the Honor Code. her family were able to Regrettably, the Before joining Pajcic & Pajcic, preserve the family’s 100 traffic homicide report he served in the State Attorney’s acres in the backwoods cleared the log truck of Office, trying 23 major felony near the weigh station. any fault because the cases in his last year. If Curry More important, the state’s legal counsel is nominated by the President recovery has allowed concluded that the and confirmed by the Senate, Mrs. Doe and Jane to live weak pancake light Pajcic & Pajcic will welcome together, but still enjoy was all that the law him back after he finishes his full and independent lives. requires from log trucks. public service career.

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Florida Supreme Court decision Federal Court verdict holding $10 million verdict for a young Georgia doctors pay Homebuilder agrees to $8 million in settlements that utility company can be liable FAA 65% responsible for wife’s death from Ford Explorer $1.2 million for ignoring confidential settlement for for paralyzed young man. for inoperable streetlight. Utility plane crash in fog enveloped roof crush. Federal regulations CT scan that could quadriplegic Mexican laborer. Signs have since been changed companies adopt new procedures Jacksonville International have since doubled the strength have saved life of Enables him to return home to provide earlier warning of to keep lights working. Airport. requirements for SUV roofs. young father. to live with his family. the dangerous overpass.

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HABIJAX HOUSE PROVIDES TRIUMPH OR TRAGEDY –––– 2014 –––– FOUNDATION FOR NEW LIFE The lives of Atrews (“Pedro”) Bell and Reggie Wilson graphically ANOTHER $2 MILLION illustrate the thin line between triumph and tragedy for African Seven years ago Shanna Carter was GIFT FOR EDUCATION American males in contemporary culture. Pedro and Reggie were a single mother struggling to pay cousins who grew up in the same house. As teenagers both Pedro the rent and make ends meet. and Reggie were star athletes in the basketball program run by Then Sallyn and Anne Pajcic Gary and Steve Pajcic in their North Riverside neighborhood. asked the firm to co-sponsor As a natural leader and gifted athlete, Pedro took a new Habijax home with the full advantage of the Pajcic grade incentives, Jacksonville Bar Association. tutoring program and scholarship pledge to Shanna got the home and become a captain of the FSU football team transformed her life. and then go on to attain post graduate degrees. She got control of her credit, earned a college If anything Reggie was an even more gifted athlete, but degree and even lost never even got to play high school sports because he never 100 pounds. Shanna got his grades high enough. In tragic contrast to Pedro’s is now in her last year success, Reggie got three bullets that ended his life at age 24 . of law school and clerked at Pajcic & Reggie left a younger brother Bobby who now faces the same challenges and dangers that Pedro Pajcic this past summer . This year the Pajcic family and Reggie did. Last year Bobby’s father called Steve Pajcic and asked if Bobby could have a summer She also runs a non-profit for youth, doubled down on its job with the firm the way Pedro did in the hope that he would follow Pedro’s instead of Reggie’s path. works as a guardian charitable giving in pursuit Bobby now wants to become a lawyer, and the firm has pledged scholarship support and summer jobs. ad litem and finds of educational opportunity time to perform with for all Jacksonville youth. young Christian artists. In previous years the family has given $1 million to fund “PAJCIC FAMILIES” scholarships at UNF for Pajcic is not the only family With these hires and others students of Gary and Steve’s connection at Pajcic & Pajcic. like them, Pajcic & Pajcic HISTORIC CAMPAIGNS old high school Paxon and Gary and Steve always took started building new networks an additional $1 million for special pride in the other and new families that reflect Although Steve never ran for office again teacher bonuses at their families at the firm. the same values and qualities after losing the general election for old elementary school Steve noticed the poise and as the Pajcics. Teddy brought Governor in 1986, the Pajcics are proud Annie R. Morgan. The professionalism of Teddy Scott in her daughter Catrina Stewart. of their involvement in the historic latest contribution is a at the JCCI office and hired her Inga - her sister Michelle campaigns of others. Gary Pajcic was gift of $2 million from to be one of his assistants. Sweeney. Harvetta - her the chairman for Nat Glover’s campaign Anne and Steve Pajcic to Gary noticed the personality nephew Antonio Kirkland. for Sheriff of Duval County. In March Edward Waters College, and diligence of Harvetta Jackson 2007 Anne and Steve Pajcic hosted Senator whose current president at his golf course and hired her. New networks and larger Barack Obama at their home in one of the is Nat Glover, a longtime The principal at Gary and Steve’s “familie s” have brought early fundraisers in his candidacy for friend of Gary and Steve. old high school told them about a greater pool of talent to President. Last year the family celebrated the ambition and intelligence of Inga Rease, Pajcic & Pajcic that makes the whole work his reelection with a visit to the Oval Office. who became Steve’s personal assistant for years. experience more rewarding for everyone.

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Apartment complex pays $5.2 million verdict is double $12.9 million verdict for Consumers burned by explosions of liquid $2 million recovery for family LET $1.7 million for teen the insurance company’s injuries to high school candles receive settlements. All manufacturers of young wife and mother killed BUL killed by stray bullet. final offer for a truck crash student from log truck recall their products, but some retailers by a big truck that recklessly PATH in Flagler County that killed U-turning on U.S. 1. continue to sell containers and fuel resulting swerved to avoid a car entering an elderly woman. in horrific injuries and another lawsuit. U.S. 1 from a convenience store.

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