Henry v. Hoelke

This appeal arises from an automobile rollover crash which rendered plaintiff, Egline Henry, paraplegic. Plaintiff appeals the trial court’s denial of her motion for directed verdict on the defendant’s seatbelt defense. We reverse because the defendant, Jena Hoelke, failed to produce competent evidence establishing a causal relationship between plaintiffs paralysis and her alleged failure to wear a seatbelt.

On February 6, 2008, plaintiff was driving home with her three-year-old daughter and a friend, Lifaite Augustin, when Hoelke made a left turn into oncoming traffic and struck plaintiffs…