A motor vehicle accident has led to a legal battle in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where an individual is seeking justice for injuries and damages sustained. Taylor R. Kiern filed a complaint on December 6, 2024, against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Patricia D. Mena-Dutton, claiming negligence led to a car crash that caused significant harm.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on December 7, 2023, when Taylor R. Kiern was driving westbound on Interstate 12 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. According to the complaint, Patricia D. Mena-Dutton, also traveling on the same road, allegedly drove negligently and collided with Kiern's vehicle. The plaintiff asserts that Mena-Dutton's actions were reckless and unlawful, citing violations of Louisiana Statutes such as RS 32:79 regarding driving on a roadway laned for traffic. The crash report attached to the filing supports these claims.
Kiern's legal team argues that the accident was solely due to Mena-Dutton's negligence, which included failing to control her vehicle properly and not maintaining a proper lookout while driving. These failures are claimed to have directly resulted in Kiern’s injuries and losses. The plaintiff is pursuing compensation for various damages including medical expenses (past, present, and future), physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability (both physical and psychological), loss of enjoyment of life, costs associated with legal proceedings, expert fees, and any other damages that may be revealed during trial.
In addition to holding Mena-Dutton accountable for her alleged negligence behind the wheel, the lawsuit also targets State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as they provided liability insurance coverage for Mena-Dutton at the time of the accident. Kiern seeks judgment against both defendants for sums deemed adequate to cover all pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages incurred due to this unfortunate event.
The case is being handled by attorneys Richard J. Fernandez and Amber E. Cisney from the Law Office of Richard J. Fernandez LLC based in Metairie, Louisiana. As it stands before Judge BSL-MBN under Case ID 2:24-cv-02817-BSL-MBN in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.