Girl Scout bus accident. A global settlement involving 21 bus passengers was reached for a total payment of $4.9 million dollars, allowing the defendant to reserve $100,000.00 for potential future claims.

Defendant Insurance: Progressive Insurance Company (for Western Coach Service)

Date, Time and Place of Incident(s): July 21, 1992, Clark County, Nevada

Facts and Background:  
Plaintiff was a passenger with over 40 other Girl Scouts returning from a Girl Scout camping trip in the mountains outside Las Vegas, Nevada. While on a downgrade the buses brakes failed and the lower gears failed. In an attempt to bring the bus to a stop the driver swerved off the road into a gravel embankment. Instead of stopping the bus, this maneuver launched the bus into the air approximately 80 feet. The bus landed and rolled numerous times before coming to a rest upside down. The plaintiff was in the last seat on the bus on the drivers side and was pinned under the diesel engine with hot diesel fuel dripping onto her shoulder and down her arm. Though rescuers believed that all of the children had managed to get out of the bus, Allison was still pinned under the engine and attempting to dig her way out. Finally her cries for help were heard and she was rescued from the scene.

Plaintiff's Contentions, Allegations:
Western Coach Services had a history of operating defective, poorly maintained buses. Its drivers were frequently forced to operate known defective buses. Drivers complaints were ignored. The subject bus had a history of known problems with brakes and gears. On the return trip with the Girl Scouts the brakes failed and the gears failed, preventing a down shift to slow the bus. It was literally a runaway with no ability to stop

Injuries and/or Damages:
Injuries include severe second and third degree liquid burns to the shoulder, upper arm and forearm resulting in extensive hypertrophic scarring. Other injuries include a broken jaw, fractured tooth and bruised spine

Specials: Past medical: approx. $22,000.00, Future Medical: approx. $10,000.00

Settlement Amounts: The defendant bus carrier maintained a $5,000,000 liability policy.

Verdict or Award: Stanley Kurash - $55,000.00; Naomi Kurash - $5,000.00

Other Verdict Details: CJ Resorts found 100% negligent

Length of Trial: Five Days

Jury: Deliberated three hours

Jury Polled: 12-0

Attorney for client: Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr. and R. Christian Hulburt

Attorney for defendant:
On behalf of Western Coach Service: Thomas Sutherland
BARKER, GILLOCK, KONING & BROWN, P.C., 430 S. Third Street Las Vegas, NV 89101 702-386-1086
On behalf of A.J. Bass: Lamond R. Mills, Esq. 601 S. Sixth Street Las Vegas, NV 89101
On behalf of Frontier Girl Scout Council: Theodore Kurtz
PEARSON AND PATTON, 6900 Westcliff Dr., Suite 800 Las Vegas, NV 89128 702-228-7717
On Behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA: Craig Friedberg
RAWLINGS, OLSON AND CANNON, 301 East Clark Ave., Suite 1000 Las Vegas, NV 89101

Individual Defendants:
Girl Scout bus accident. A global settlement involving 21 bus passengers was reached for a total payment of $4.9 million dollars, allowing the defendant to reserve $100,000.00 for potential future claims.