Case Background
The legal dispute originated from a multi-vehicle traffic collision that occurred on October 5, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida. Esther Hudnell sat in her 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, stopped at a stop sign on Tresca Road where it intersects with Atlantic Boulevard. At the same time, Norman Lee Qualls drove a 2008 KW W900 tractor-trailer westbound on Atlantic Boulevard. While Qualls traveled in the middle lane, he attempted to make a right-hand turn onto Tresca Road. This maneuver caused his massive vehicle to block both the middle and right lanes of the busy thoroughfare.
Cause
The collision occurred because a third party, Mohamad Salameh, occupied the right lane as Qualls began his wide turn. To avoid crashing directly into the side of the tractor-trailer, Salameh swerved his black pickup truck to the right. This sudden evasive action sent the pickup truck careening into Esther Hudnell’s stationary Hyundai. The impact resulted in significant physical damage and personal injury.
Injury
As a result of the crash, Esther Hudnell sustained injuries that the jury later classified as permanent within a reasonable degree of medical probability. These injuries caused her to experience a loss of important bodily functions and significant physical impairment. Beyond the immediate trauma, the accident aggravated existing physical defects and left her with a permanent loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.
Damages Sought
In her initial complaint, Hudnell sought compensation exceeding $50,000.00 for a variety of losses. Her legal team pursued recovery for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and a diminished earning capacity. Additionally, she sought non-economic damages to account for her mental anguish, physical pain, and the ongoing inconvenience caused by her disability.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Esther Hudnell
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Steven E. Earle of Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
· Experts for Plaintiff(s): Tim Osbon
Defendant(s): Norman Lee Qualls; YK Express, LLC | Atlantic Freight, Inc | Atlantic Transportation, Inc.
· Counsel for Defendant(s): E. Holland Howanitz | Johanna Harrington
· Experts for Defendant(s): Matthew Lawson | Marc F. Glickstein | Timothy M. Ward | Scott Kyle | Sean Kuyper | Brandi Marsh-Nnadi | Austin Mead | Lewalie Henley | Omar Abderhman | Jessica Kalarovich | Mark Timken | Arkam Rehman | Darien Rhodes | Joseph Graham | Anthony Premo | Beatriz Esberard | Danielle Hinkey
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Steven Earle argued that Norman Lee Qualls acted with gross negligence when he attempted a right turn from the middle lane of a three-lane road. He emphasized that the tractor-trailer’s position created a "trap" for drivers in the right lane, effectively forcing the collision with his client’s stopped car.
The defense team for YK Express and Qualls countered by pointing the finger at Mohamad Salameh, the driver of the black pickup truck. They argued that Salameh’s failure to maintain control of his vehicle served as the actual cause of the impact.
Claims
Hudnell filed a two-count complaint centered on negligence. The first claim targeted Norman Lee Qualls for his failure to operate the tractor-trailer in a safe manner. The second claim sought to hold YK Express, LLC vicariously liable for Qualls' actions. Hudnell argued that since Qualls operated the truck with the permission and for the benefit of YK Express, the company shared the legal responsibility for her injuries under the Florida Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine.
Defense
The Defendants raised several affirmative defenses to shield themselves from a high payout. They initially claimed that Hudnell herself might have contributed to her injuries by failing to wear a seatbelt. They also argued that any medical bills she presented should be limited to the amounts actually paid by insurance rather than the higher amounts billed by providers. Most importantly, they asserted a "Fabre" defense, which requested that the jury shift the blame to Salameh, who was not a named Defendant in the original lawsuit.
Jury Verdict
On February 26, 2026, the jury returned a verdict that favoured Esther Hudnell on nearly every point of contention. The jurors first determined that Norman Lee Qualls had acted with negligence and that his actions were the legal cause of Hudnell’s losses.
When the Court asked the jury to consider the role of the black pickup truck’s operator, the jurors found that the other driver carried no legal blame for the accident. Consequently, the jury assigned 100% of the negligence to Norman Lee Qualls.
The jury then calculated the financial compensation owed to Hudnell. For her past medical bills, they awarded her $129,580.40. They also set aside $50,000.00 for her future medical expenses.
Because the jury confirmed that Hudnell suffered a permanent injury, they were authorized to award non-economic damages for her physical and emotional pain. They decided on a figure of $150,000.00 for her past pain and suffering. For the pain she would continue to endure for the rest of her life, they awarded an additional $375,000.00.
In total, the jury awarded Esther Hudnell $704,580.40 in damages. The foreperson signed the document in February 2026, bringing the trial to a close and holding the trucking company and its driver fully accountable for the crash on Atlantic Boulevard.
Court Documents
