On Thursday, a Harris County jury reached a verdict awarding the family of a construction worker who drowned while working on a project at Baylor University in 2014 $17.72 million.
Jose Dario Suarez, 55, drowned while working on the pedestrian bridge for McLane Stadium in Jan. of 2014. The family had filed a lawsuit that included Baylor University, but Baylor was dismissed from it last year.
Vuk Vujasinovic, the attorney for the worker's family, said he was pleased with the verdict, which put 100 percent of the liability on Austin Bridge & Road, LP.
"We hope this sends a message to companies that they should put safety over speed and profits," said Vujasinovic.
During closing arguments, Vujasinovic said he asked the jury to award the family $27.6 million.
The jury in the 151st Civil District Court of Harris County deliberated for six hours over two days before reaching the verdict.
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