Attorney Seeks $46 Million For Family in Wrongful Death Case

The attorney representing the family of 18-year old Jessica Uhl and 13-year old Kelli Uhl has asked the court to award the family $46 million in their wrongful death lawsuit against the state of Illinois and one of its State Troopers.

Jessica and Kelli were killed on November 23, 2007 in a horrific crash on I-64 in Illinois. The two sisters were hit by Illinois State Trooper Matt Mitchell, who was driving his squad car to an accident at 126 miles per hour while talking on his cell phone and texting. The girls died instantly.

The family's attorney, Tom Keefe, says he is asking for the $46 million because of the amount of people who are involved, the nature of the tragic crash, and the effect the loss has had on the family.

Jessica and Kelli left behind parents as well as two other siblings. Keefe says, "We have two kids here not one. We have four claimants not one. We've got a mom, a dad, and two siblings."

Furthermore, Keefe says, "[The girls were] mangled and injured to the extent that [the family] never got to see them again. The casket was never opened. Those kids were never dressed for the wake."

The accident has shocked not only people in Illinois, but around the country. Even fellow Illinois State Trooper John Schleper, who testified on behalf of Mitchell, acknowledged that Mitchell's conduct was outrageous.

Keefe says that Mitchell is "an embarrassment to Illinois State Police, law enforcement, and the human race.

The death of the Uhl sisters are just two of the thousands of people who die each year in car accidents because another driver is distracted by their cell phone and texting while driving.

Read more about Texting While Driving and Wrongful Death!

Visit our S.C. Accident & Injury Library.

Read out article "Cell Phone Uses Causes 1.6 Million Accidents A Year."

Read the about the University of Utah study that found texting drivers more likely to crash.

Read our article "10 Tips for Dealing with Trauma and Tragedy."