The Estate of Sarah Susman v. Starker Forests, Inc., et al.

Summary

An Oregon state court jury heard opening statements June 13th in a wrongful death lawsuit blaming a logging company for hiring a driver who wrecked his truck while intoxicated and sent logs fatally crashing into another vehicle.

The case was filed by the family of Sarah Susman, who died in 2021 at the age of 25 after a driver for R&T Logging lost control of his overloaded truck while speeding. The trucks driver, Shane McVay, was later sentenced to 10 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence.

Outcome

Verdict for the defense

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: The Estate of Sarah Susman
Defense: R&T Logging

Judge: Charles Zennaché
Jurisdiction: Lane County Circuit Court
Court: Lane County Circuit Court

Case Number: 23CV17883
Industry: Trucking, Transportation
Practice Area: Negligence

Plaintiff

The Estate of Sarah Susman

Defense

R&T Logging

Represented By:
Hansen, Jeffrey (Chock Barhoum LLP)

SESSIONS

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:53	Opening Statement	D'Amore, Tom
00:10:10	General Case Activities
00:39:59	Break
00:56:10	General Case Activities
00:57:34	Opening Statement	D'Amore, Tom
01:43:49	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

17 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Kerner, Ricki	In Person
00:06:54	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Kerner, Ricki	In Person
00:11:07	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Meneely, Kenn	In Person
00:41:32	Break
00:57:49	General Case Activities
01:07:19	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Meneely, Kenn	In Person
01:44:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Meneely, Kenn	In Person
01:47:52	General Case Activities
01:49:54	Break
02:02:48	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Borton, Raymond	In Person
02:23:54	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Susman, Rachel	In Person
02:59:12	Break
03:08:08	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Susman, Rachel	In Person
03:35:37	End of Session

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Susman, James	In Person
00:47:02	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Susman, Daniel	In Person
01:14:32	Break
01:41:27	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Cronrath, Keith	In Person
01:47:55	Break
02:16:29	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Cronrath, Keith	In Person
03:17:05	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Cronrath, Keith	In Person
03:59:02	Witness Re-Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Cronrath, Keith	In Person
04:06:40	End of Session

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Curtis, Wesley	In Person
00:34:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Curtis, Wesley	In Person
00:41:53	General Case Activities
00:42:25	Break
01:03:22	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Arre, Debra	In Person
01:25:41	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Arre, Debra	In Person
01:27:43	Break
01:46:27	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Darby, Dr. Paul M.D.	In Person
02:49:03	Witness Cross Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Darby, Dr. Paul M.D.	In Person
03:17:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Darby, Dr. Paul M.D.	In Person
03:23:46	General Case Activities
03:27:05	End of Session

JUN

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

16 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Day, Cale	In Person
00:50:55	Witness Cross Examination	Hong, Joon	Day, Cale	In Person
00:56:52	General Case Activities
01:03:15	Witness Cross Examination	Hong, Joon	Day, Cale	In Person
01:13:25	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Day, Cale	In Person
01:16:40	Break
01:38:42	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Cook, Matthew	In Person
02:48:01	Witness Cross Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
03:19:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Cook, Matthew	In Person
03:25:02	General Case Activities
03:28:07	End of Session

JUN

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

14 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Crosby, Charles	In Person
01:25:33	Break
01:44:58	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Crosby, Charles	In Person
02:01:51	General Case Activities
02:06:50	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Crosby, Charles	In Person
02:21:48	Witness Cross Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Crosby, Charles	In Person
02:42:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Crosby, Charles	In Person
02:50:48	General Case Activities
03:09:02	End of Session

JUN

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

22 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Borton, Raymond	In Person
00:22:03	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Borton, Raymond	In Person
00:27:38	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Wimer, Jeffrey	In Person
01:07:27	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Wimer, Jeffrey	In Person
01:19:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Wimer, Jeffrey	In Person
01:21:23	Break
01:34:17	General Case Activities
01:36:47	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Cook, Matthew	In Person
01:42:53	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Cook, Matthew	In Person
01:45:48	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Cook, Matthew	In Person
01:47:23	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	McVay, Shane	In Person
01:54:53	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	McVay, Shane	In Person
02:04:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	McVay, Shane	In Person
02:14:47	General Case Activities
02:15:23	Break
02:22:07	General Case Activities
03:52:26	Break
04:20:58	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Emerson, Dr. Patrick Ph.D.	Video Conference
04:34:32	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Emerson, Dr. Patrick Ph.D.	Video Conference
04:41:11	Witness Re-Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Emerson, Dr. Patrick Ph.D.	Video Conference
04:43:56	General Case Activities
04:45:16	End of Session

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Closings

12 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

JUN

The Estate of Sarah Susman v. Starker Forests, Inc., et al.

Summary

Outcome

SESSIONS

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:05	Opening Statement	Hansen, Jeffrey
01:10:16	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Fawver, Deputy Michael	In Person
01:35:49	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Fawver, Deputy Michael	In Person
01:46:11	General Case Activities
01:48:24	Break
02:06:34	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Goins, Richard	Video Conference
02:39:41	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Goins, Richard	Video Conference
02:46:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Goins, Richard	Video Conference
02:49:36	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
02:53:13	General Case Activities
02:57:33	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
03:14:25	General Case Activities
03:21:31	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:19	Break
00:16:11	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
00:26:56	General Case Activities
00:37:29	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
01:16:02	General Case Activities
01:23:04	Break
01:34:44	General Case Activities
01:41:22	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
01:44:44	General Case Activities
01:48:24	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
01:59:14	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Cook, Matthew	In Person
02:18:03	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Cook, Matthew	In Person
02:22:29	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Fisher, Wendy	In Person
02:30:12	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Fisher, Wendy	In Person
02:32:01	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Fisher, Wendy	In Person
02:34:24	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:10	Break
00:23:39	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Susman, Rachel	In Person
00:36:55	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Susman, Rachel	In Person
00:48:10	Witness Re-Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Susman, Rachel	In Person
00:49:05	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Lalwani, Dr. Kirk M.D.	Video Conference
01:13:30	Witness Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Emerson, Dr. Patrick Ph.D.	In Person
01:50:12	Break
02:07:38	General Case Activities
02:25:42	Witness Cross Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Emerson, Dr. Patrick Ph.D.	In Person
02:48:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Emerson, Dr. Patrick Ph.D.	In Person
02:54:12	General Case Activities
02:55:32	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:20:35	Break
00:28:45	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	DeWeerd, Lila	Video Conference
00:38:13	Break
00:46:25	General Case Activities
00:48:48	Break
01:00:45	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	DeWeerd, Lila	Video Conference
01:08:15	Break
01:12:03	Witness Direct Examination	Hong, Joon	Chance, Robert	Video Conference
01:32:16	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Curtis, Wesley	In Person
01:58:10	General Case Activities
01:59:40	General Case Activities		Curtis, Wesley	In Person
02:10:11	Witness Direct Examination	Turner, Ben	Curtis, Wesley	In Person
02:27:05	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:03	Break
00:18:25	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Joy, Jeffrey	In Person
00:25:38	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Tokich, Randall	In Person
00:38:33	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Tokich, Randall	In Person
00:42:02	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Tokich, Randall	In Person
00:44:03	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Nerseth, Steven	In Person
01:01:21	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Nerseth, Steven	In Person
01:07:13	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Meader, Robert	In Person
01:32:53	Break
01:49:23	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Meader, Robert	In Person
01:55:21	General Case Activities
02:01:33	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Meader, Robert	In Person
02:12:28	Witness Cross Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Meader, Robert	In Person
02:38:03	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Meader, Robert	In Person
02:39:32	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:45	Witness Direct Examination	Cobb, Natasha	Lelong, Staci	In Person
00:09:05	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	West, Heather	In Person
00:20:03	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Steilberg, Rachel	In Person
00:54:38	Witness Cross Examination	Turner, Ben	Steilberg, Rachel	In Person
01:07:54	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Steilberg, Rachel	In Person
01:11:10	Break
01:26:26	Witness Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Kuga, Dr. Mark	In Person
02:06:38	Witness Cross Examination	D'Amore, Tom	Kuga, Dr. Mark	In Person
02:29:29	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hansen, Jeffrey	Kuga, Dr. Mark	In Person
02:33:48	General Case Activities
02:34:35	Break
02:43:52	General Case Activities
03:24:20	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:35	Break
00:30:53	General Case Activities
00:35:42	Break
00:47:17	General Case Activities
01:11:07	Closing Statement	D'Amore, Tom
02:06:38	Break
02:21:11	Closing Statement	Hansen, Jeffrey
03:27:49	Closing Statement	D'Amore, Tom
03:38:00	General Case Activities
03:39:34	General Case Activities
03:45:53	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:02:15	Reading of the Verdict
		00:04:32	General Case Activities
		00:07:08	End of Session