Case Background
This legal dispute began following a motor vehicle collision that occurred on March 29, 2021, in Duval County, Florida. Sunlonda Ross filed a civil lawsuit against the Florida Highway Patrol after an encounter with one of their vehicles at the intersection of Interstate 295 and Commonwealth Road. The case moved through the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, eventually reaching a jury trial in late August 2025.
Cause
The incident took place during the afternoon commute at approximately 4:28 PM. Sunlonda Ross traveled northbound on I-295 in the outside lane, approaching a stopped fire truck. At the same time, Devin Scott Sheffield operated a 2018 Ford Explorer owned by the Florida Highway Patrol. According to the initial claim, Sheffield accelerated and merged into the outside travel lane but failed to yield the right of way. This maneuver resulted in a collision with the front of the vehicle Ross occupied.
Injury
Ross alleged that the force of the impact caused significant bodily injuries. She claimed to have sustained permanent damage to her body as a whole, which impacted her ability to lead a normal life. The complaint noted that these injuries required hospital care and ongoing medical treatment. Beyond the physical trauma, Ross cited mental anguish, physical impairment, and a loss of capacity for enjoying life. She asserted that these losses were either permanent or continuing in nature.
Damages Sought
In her pursuit of justice, Ross requested compensation exceeding $50,000.00, exclusive of interest and legal fees. The financial demands covered several categories, including past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, and a diminished ability to earn money in the future. Additionally, she sought non-economic damages for pain and suffering, inconvenience, and the activation of pre-existing conditions that the crash allegedly made worse.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The trial spanned five days, beginning on August 25, 2025, and concluding with a verdict on August 29. Throughout the proceedings, the Court examined the actions of both drivers to determine who bore the legal responsibility for the accident.
Legal Representation
The parties relied on the following legal teams:
Plaintiff(s): Sunlonda Ross.
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Nicolas B. Iannucci | Nicolle P. Von Roenn
Experts for Plaintiff(s): Mark S. Frisk | Jocelyn Holt | Chris Yates
Defendant(s): Florida Highway Patrol.
Counsel for Defendant(s): Michael Lee Glass | Patrick Donald Vaught Considine
Experts for Defendant(s): Eric M. Gabriel | Marc Glickstein | Lisa Horn Anderson | Shane Remy
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The legal teams presented two very different versions of the 2021 accident. Counsel for Ross focused on the duty of care that state employees owe to the public while operating government vehicles. They argued that Devin Sheffield acted negligently by merging into traffic without ensuring the lane was clear, making the Florida Highway Patrol liable for the resulting damages under the doctrine of Respondeat Superior.
Claims
Ross built her case on a single count of negligence. Her team argued that Sheffield, as an agent of the Florida Highway Patrol, had a duty to operate his vehicle in a careful and prudent manner. They alleged he breached this duty by failing to avoid the collision. Because he was acting within the scope of his employment at the time, the Plaintiff maintained that the state agency must answer for his mistakes.
Defense
The Florida Highway Patrol mounted a multi-layered defense. While they admitted a general duty of care existed, they denied that Sheffield breached that duty. In their affirmative defenses, they suggested that Ross herself might have been negligent in how she operated her vehicle or that she failed to wear a seatbelt, which could have contributed to her injuries. They also challenged the severity of the injuries, arguing that Ross did not suffer a permanent injury and therefore did not qualify for pain and suffering damages. Finally, the defense pointed out that as a government agency, they were protected by statutory caps on personal injury claims.
Jury Verdict
The jury reached a definitive conclusion on August 29, 2025, returning a verdict that completely favored the Defendant, Florida Highway Patrol. The outcome of the entire trial rested on the very first question of the verdict form, which asked the jurors if Devin Sheffield had been negligent in a way that caused harm to Sunlonda Ross. The jury selected "NO," effectively clearing the Florida Highway Patrol of legal liability for the accident. Because they found no negligence on the part of the Defendant, the jurors followed the Court's strict instructions to stop their deliberations immediately; they did not calculate any monetary damages for medical expenses or pain and suffering, nor did they determine if Ross herself had contributed to the crash.
As a result of this finding, Judge James H. Daniel issued an Amended Final Judgment on October 23, 2025, officially closing the case in the Defendant's favor. The Court decreed that Sunlonda Ross would receive nothing from the lawsuit and was dismissed from the proceedings.
