Driver in 2015 crash that led to $1 billion jury award seeks new civil trial; Supreme Court hears case

A driver who caused a 2015 Bismarck Expressway crash that killed two women, severely injured a third and resulted in a $1 billion jury award should get a new civil trial, his attorney argued Tuesday before the North Dakota Supreme Court.
Attorney Kay Nord Hunt argued that Jordan Morsette made an “unequivocal admission of his fault” in causing the crash that killed Taylor Goven, 21, of Mandan, and Abby Renschler, 22, of Lincoln, and caused a traumatic brain injury to Shayna Monson, 21, of Dickinson. Hunt also said evidence that Morsette was drunk should not have been allowed in part of his trial.
A civil court jury in November 2019 awarded $295 million in punitive damages each to Monson and the families of Renschler and Goven. Jurors also awarded compensatory damages totaling $170 million to Monson and $36 million each to the families of the two women who died. Punitive damages are awarded as punishment; compensatory damages are meant to cover losses. The district court later reduced the total damage award to about $690 million, according to Supreme Court documents.

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