Case Background
A Lake County jury ruled in favor of Rae Casto after a commercial vehicle collision. The trial took place at the Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room Two, in East Chicago, Indiana, before Judge Calvin D. Hawkins. The jury returned its verdict on October 17, 2025, and the Court entered judgment the same day.
Cause
On October 14, 2022, Rae Casto was traveling south on Silhavy Road in the roundabout at LaPorte Avenue when Alex McCollum, operating a vehicle on behalf of Aim Integrated Logistics, Inc., struck her vehicle. McCollum was an employee of Aim Integrated Logistics at the time of the collision. Casto filed her amended complaint in Lake Superior Court on March 27, 2023.
Injury
As a result of the collision, Casto suffered personal injuries that required medical care and treatment. She experienced pain while receiving treatment and while recovering from her injuries. She also suffered emotional distress as a result of the accident.
Damages Sought
Casto sought a monetary award to compensate her for her injuries and damages, both those she already sustained and those she would continue to sustain in the future. She also sought costs of the action.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Rae Casto
· Counsel for Plaintiff: David S. Gladish | Mark J. Schocke
Defendants: Alex McCollum | Aim Integrated Logistics, Inc.
· Counsel for Defendants: Andrew F. Marquis | Peter R. Wickard
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
Casto alleged that McCollum drove in a reckless and dangerous manner on October 14, 2022. She raised four specific allegations of negligent conduct.
Speeding: Casto alleged that McCollum drove too fast for road conditions at the time of the collision.
Failure to Warn: She alleged that McCollum failed to give proper and sufficient warning of his approach to her location in the roundabout.
Failure to Keep Lookout: Casto alleged that McCollum did not maintain a proper and sufficient lookout for other vehicles on the road.
Failure to Maintain Control: She further alleged that McCollum failed to maintain his vehicle in a way that would have prevented it from coming into contact with her vehicle.
Casto also alleged that Aim Integrated Logistics bore responsibility for McCollum's actions under the legal theories of respondeat superior and negligent entrustment of its vehicle to McCollum.
Defense
When McCollum and Aim Integrated Logistics filed their answer on March 30, 2023, they denied most of the Plaintiff's allegations. They admitted that McCollum was an employee of Aim Integrated Logistics at the time of the accident and that a collision occurred on October 14, 2022, on Silhavy Road at the LaPorte Avenue roundabout. However, they denied that McCollum operated a commercial truck owned by Aim Integrated Logistics, while acknowledging that the vehicle McCollum drove belonged to the company.
The Defendants raised several affirmative defenses. They argued that Casto's own negligence caused more than fifty percent of the accident, which under Indiana law would bar her from recovering any damages. In the alternative, they argued that even if her negligence was fifty percent or less, her damages should be reduced in proportion to her share of fault. They also raised the possibility that Casto received compensation from collateral sources that should offset any damages award, that she failed to mitigate her damages, and that her injuries may not have been caused by the accident at all.
By the time the case went to trial, however, the Defendants admitted liability. According to the Court's minutes from October 17, 2025, both McCollum and Aim Integrated Logistics admitted liability in the cause of action during the trial proceedings. The case then proceeded solely on the question of damages.
Jury Verdict
The jury returned a verdict in favor of Rae Casto on October 17, 2025, and awarded her $136,000 in damages against both Alex McCollum and Aim Integrated Logistics, Inc.
The Court's minutes reflect the sequence of events on the day of the verdict. The Defendants presented their case in chief, witnesses were sworn and evidence was heard, and the Defendants then rested. The Court and attorneys met outside the presence of the jury to settle the final jury instructions. The Court presented its written final instructions, numbered one through seventeen, which included instructions tendered by both parties.
Among the Plaintiff's tendered instructions, the Court gave instructions numbered two, three, five, and six as submitted, and gave instruction number four in a modified form. The Plaintiff withdrew tendered instruction number one. Among the Defendants' tendered instructions, the Court gave instructions numbered one, four, and five as submitted. The Defendants withdrew instructions numbered two, three, seven, eight, nine, and ten. Neither party raised objections to the Court's final jury instructions.
After final arguments by counsel and the reading of instructions by Judge Hawkins, jury bailiff Susan Mills was sworn in open Court. The jury then retired to deliberate and returned its verdict in open Court. The presiding juror signed the verdict form, dated October 17, 2025.
Following the verdict, Casto's attorney David Gladish moved for judgment on the verdict. Judge Hawkins granted the motion the same day. The Court entered judgment in favor of Rae Casto and against Alex McCollum and Aim Integrated Logistics, Inc. in the amount of $136,000. The judgment was entered on October 17, 2025, by Judge Calvin D. Hawkins of the Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, Room Two.
Court documents are available upon request at [email protected]
