Detroit, Michigan – A jury in the Eastern District of Michigan Federal Court returned a verdict of $18.5 million yesterday in the case of Montie v. Crossfire LLC et al. The lawsuit was filed by the family of 21-year-old Dillon Montie, who tragically lost his life in a broadside collision with a commercial motor vehicle in 2018.

The fatal crash occurred on April 27, 2018, at the intersection of westbound Summerfield Road and the northbound exit ramp of US-23. The driver of a modified Ford F-250, operated by Crossfire, LLC, turned left onto Summerfield Road from US-23 without yielding to oncoming traffic.

While traveling eastbound on Summerfield, Dillon Montie could not avoid Crossfire’s vehicle and collided with the side of the truck. The crash killed Dillon Montie on impact; Crossfire’s driver and passenger survived.

Before the federal trial, the Montie family rejected the insurance company’s offer to settle the case for $500,000. 

“We recognized the profound impact of this tragic loss and firmly believed that the value of what was taken from [the Montie family] far exceeded $500,000. [My team and I] have a duty to fight for justice…and pushing the case to verdict was an important step towards holding the responsible parties accountable for the devastating consequences of their negligence,” said Michael Leizerman, the family’s attorney and a partner at The Law Firm for Truck Safety. 

After just one hour of deliberations, the Michigan jury delivered a unanimous verdict, holding the defense and insurance company responsible for the 21-year-old’s death. The trial included testimony from Dillon Montie’s father, Joe Miller, about their close relationship and Dillon’s plan to take over his fishing charter business. Tracy Montie Allison, Dillon’s mother, testified that she and Dillon texted and spoke daily and had weekly dinner dates together.

In response to the verdict, attorney Michael Leizerman stated, “There is no legal outcome that can undo the devastating loss experienced by the Montie family. Nevertheless, this verdict brings solace to a family devastated by the senseless loss of their son. [My firm and I] believe accountability is indispensable in fostering safer roads and mitigating future trucking tragedies.”

Media Inquiries: Vanessa Mensie, info@truckaccidents.com (800) 628-4500

The Law Firm for Truck Safety, known for their unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights of victims and their families in truck crash cases, emphasizes the importance of their mission. With a proven track record of success, their team of experienced attorneys remains dedicated to pursuing justice on behalf of those affected by truck accidents.