The case grows out of injuries Trudy Roy suffered in 2006 when a police motorcycle operated by Officer Jerry Suttles collided with her while she was crossing the street. Mrs. Roy suffered serious personal injuries as a result, but later died from unrelated causes. Because police officers are not typically subject to suit, in order to award damages in Mrs. Roy’s case, the jury first had to decide that the officer violated the law. In fact, just to get this case to trial before a jury, attorney Rip Andrews had to first win several appeals at the Supreme Court of Alabama.
For nearly two weeks, the jury heard evidence of how Mrs. Roy got hurt. It happened while Officer Suttles and other officers were providing a police escort for a charity parade. The speed limit in the area was 25 miles per hour, but the jury found that the officer exceeded the speed limit even though there was no emergency and even though he did not use his siren. Before Mrs. Roy stepped into the road, another police officer told her she was clear to cross. Officer Suttles couldn’t explain why he didn’t see Mrs. Roy in the middle of the road.
