August 4, 2005 - Judge awards couple $2.2 million in DUI case

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A judge in Clayton County, Georgia, recently awarded $2.2 million in damages, including $1.1 million in punitive damages, to a couple injured in a drunk driving accident.

Judge Morris E. Braswell imposed a $2.2 million default judgement against driver Larry McClellan, formerly of Clayton County.

Braswell found McClellan negligent in a Nov. 12, 2002, accident that seriously injured Charlie Ferrell and his wife, Maria, of Marietta.

Georgia law caps punitive damages at $250,000 unless the defendant acted while under the influence of drugs. Court records show McClellan was impaired by cocaine and morphine at the time of the crash and pleaded guilty to DUI. << back