Elrod Pope Law Firm Secures $10.28 Million Verdict in Catastrophic Trailer Collapse Case
The personal injury law firm obtained the largest jury verdict in its history, including $2.8 million in punitive damages, on behalf of a South Carolina man who suffered severe lower back and spinal nerve damage in the March 2021 incident.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The personal injury law firm of Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys announced today that it secured the largest jury verdict in the firm’s history – a $10.28 million award on behalf of a South Carolina man who suffered life-altering lower back and spinal nerve injuries in March 2021 when the commercial trailer he was loading collapsed while he was still inside.
Rock Hill personal injury attorneys Andrew “Drew” Creech and Harold C. Staley, Jr., from Elrod Pope, along with attorney Ashley Creech of McGowan Hood Felder & Phillips, tried the negligence case in the Rock Hill Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina before the Honorable Joseph F. Anderson.
On May 9, 2026, the jury awarded the plaintiff, Mr. Anthony Avery, $7.48 million in compensatory damages and $2.8 million in punitive damages in the case, Anthony Avery v. MG Logistics, Inc. (Case No. 0:23-0222-JFA).
Elrod Pope partner and lead trial attorney Drew Creech said the verdict reflects the harm Mr. Avery suffered and the seriousness of the safety failures at issue.
“From the very beginning, this case was about a hard-working man whose life was forever changed because basic safety standards were ignored,” Mr. Creech said.
“Tony Avery spent more than two decades earning the respect of everyone around him through hard work, dedication, and grit. What happened to him impacted far more than just his physical health. It took away his career, his independence, his sense of purpose, and a large part of the life he had built for himself and his family. We are deeply grateful the jury carefully considered the evidence and gave a voice to what Mr. Avery and his family have endured.”
The case arose from an incident involving a commercial dry van trailer that M.G. Logistics, Inc., owned. According to the trial evidence, the company replaced the trailer’s landing gear after damage in July 2020. However, the replacement was improperly installed without diagonal cross-bracing.
On March 27, 2021, as Mr. Avery loaded an 8,000-pound roll of commercial paper into the trailer while using a grab truck, the landing gear legs collapsed sideways, causing the trailer to tip onto its side with him still inside.
Mr. Avery alleged that M.G. Logistics had been negligent by failing to properly inspect the trailer and identify that the landing gear was missing the diagonal cross-bracing necessary to make it safe for loading operations.
Due to the incident, he suffered a severe lower back injury that required L3-L5 lumbar decompression and fusion and permanent spinal nerve damage, resulting in permanent disability and the inability to return to work.
Before trial, the defendant’s highest settlement offer was $300,000.
“We made substantial efforts to resolve this case long before trial, but unfortunately, a large out-of-state trucking company from Chicago refused to take meaningful responsibility for what occurred,” said Mr. Staley, an Elrod Pope partner and trial attorney.
“After hearing all the evidence, the jury delivered a verdict that underscores the importance of safety, accountability, and protecting hardworking people in our community. We believe this verdict sends a clear message that reckless disregard for safety by commercial carriers will not be tolerated in South Carolina.”
About Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys
For over 45 years, Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys has protected the rights of individuals and families in personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases throughout South Carolina and North Carolina, with offices located in Rock Hill, Charlotte, Lancaster, Fort Mill, and Lake Wylie. Elrod Pope takes pride in being a family-oriented firm that has built a reputation based on trust, compassion, and results. To learn more, contact the firm online.
