Birmingham attorney Carrie Bates obtained a judgment for the defense following a trial in a recent trucking case. The plaintiff claimed a driver for the defendant-company struck her vehicle and then continued driving, leaving the scene. The plaintiff further alleged a witness identified the vehicle down the road as owned by the defendant. The plaintiff stated claims of negligence, wantonness, and negligent entrustment of a commercial motor vehicle.
Upon motion at trial, the plaintiff agreed to the dismissal of the negligent entrustment and wantonness claims. During trial, Bates argued for the defendant that this was a case of mistaken identity and offered testimony from the driver allegedly involved in the accident that he had not been involved in the hit and run. The district court judge entered a judgment for the defendant.