The Washington County Circuit Court has ordered a man convicted of manslaughter by vehicle to pay Debra Reed Fields-Jordan’s family $2 million in restitution. Fields-Jordan died in a May 2008 truck-motorcycle accident when the driver of a pickup truck ignored a stop sign and hit the woman’s motorcycle on MD Route 77.
The driver of the pickup truck, Harry W. Shrader, fled the scene of the fatal motorcycle accident. Several days later, police arrested Shrader after tracing the vehicle to him — the truck was registered in his name. In November of last year, Shrader was handed a 10-year prison sentence following a guilty plea on the count of vehicular manslaughter. He is now being held at the Maryland Correctional Training Center. According to reports, Shrader was drunk at the time of the fatal traffic accident.
In August 2008, Fields-Jordan’s husband, Stephen J Jordan, sued Schrader for his wife’s wrongful death. Jordan sought $2 million in punitive damages and $4 million in compensatory damages. He accused Schrader of causing emotional trauma, mental anguish, loss of companionship, society, marital care, comfort, protection, advice, attention, training, guidance, counsel, education, and his wife’s love.
Last month, Jordan filed documents accusing Schrader of trying to defraud his family from any wrongful death compensation they could be owed when the inmate transferred more than 44 acres of land to his girlfriend.
Intoxicated Driving
Driving while intoxicated, whether under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is against the law. It is also a cause of far too many personal injuries and wrongful deaths. A truck driver, motorcyclist, car driver, or bus driver who engages in intoxicated driving and injures someone else as a result may be held liable with a Maryland personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit.
$2M restitution in manslaughter case, The Herald Mail, January 30, 2009
Smithsburg man gets 10 years in vehicle manslaughter case, The Herald-Mail, November 17, 2008
Related Web Resource:
Motorcycle Accident Overview, Justia