Two Ont. crash victims awarded $24 million

Two 25-year-old Bradford, Ont., men who suffered "catastrophic" injuries after they were thrown from a truck driven by an intoxicated friend have been awarded about $12 million each, one of Canada's largest-ever personal injury judgments.

But the awards will be reduced because neither man was wearing a seat belt at the time of the single-vehicle crash in 2003, the National Post reports.

Justice Bruce Glass of the province's Superior Court of Justice ruled Tuesday that Corey Greig and Ford Credit Canada Leasing Ltd., which owned Greig's pickup truck, must pay the huge sum to Derek Gordon and Ryan Morrison.

Most of the money is for the pair's ongoing medical care and lost future income.

Gordon was left with severe brain damage after the accident three years ago, while Morrison was paralyzed from the chest down.

"I've been doing this work for over 30 years and I don't know of another combined award in a single case that even comes close to this [amount]," Roger Oatley, who represented Gordon in the case, told the Post.

"Derek's parents haven't had a moment's sleep since he was hurt. Thanks to this judgment, the family will have the funds to hire caregivers so that Derek and his family now have a chance for a decent life."

On Sept. 26, 2003, the three friends and another companion were headed to Greig's family cottage near Lindsay, east of Toronto, when the driver, Greig, lost control on a curve.

The truck, which was travelling well over the posted speed limit, rolled several times, ejecting Gordon and Morrison.

Greig had earlier said he was "fine" to drive and appeared sober, even though his blood-alcohol level was over the legal driving limit, the judgment said.

Because the two injured men didn't put on seat belts, their award will be cut by an amount agreed to by both parties, believed to be between 10 and 25 per cent.

Morrison was supposed to be the designated driver for the trip, but after his car had mechanical problems, Greig drove his own car instead.