by Chris Cannon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jessica Volz moved to Nashville Friday, three days after a Chattanooga jury awarded the drunk driving victim $9.25 million for a 2008 drunk driving wreck.
She will soon start culinary school, a choice she made after surviving the violent wreck.
"I want to make this year about me, pursuing the dreams that I want because your life could be cut short," Volz said.
Volz was a high school senior and the time and was driving home from a basketball game on the night of November 25, 2008. That was a date that changed her life forever.
"I saw the headlights in my lane and I came to a complete stop and he just smacked into my car," Volz explained.
The wreck quickly became something the now 21-year-old could not avoid. Kevin Davis was drunk and passed out behind the wheel of the other car.
"I couldn't even get out, they had to pry the doors open," Volz said.
Davis was arrested, charged and convicted of driving under the influence. He spent more than three years in prison for his crime.
Volz and her family decided to sue him in civil court. Tuesday a jury in Chattanooga found Davis negligent and reckless in causing that 2008 wreck. They assigned a monetary value to their verdict.
"When the jury ruled the verdict, my jaw dropped, I couldn't believe it," Volz said.
The jury awarded her $9.25m. $500,000 of that was for compensatory damages and $8.75 in punitive damages. It is the largest verdict ever against a drunk driver in the State of Tennessee.
"I will probably never see one single penny of that money because of his circumstances," Volz admitted.
She said Davis has yet to pay for anything related to the wreck. But Volz contended the civil suit was not about a multi-million dollar judgement.
"Most times people just think people are out for money. It was more than that, it was a message," according to Volz.
She is hopeful the staggering dollar amount will send a clear message to anyone who thinks about drinking and driving.
"Every single life can be spared. Nobody needs to be killed from a drunk driving accident, nobody needs to be injured," Volz said.
Davis never appeared at the civil trial in Hamilton County court. He did not even have an attorney present to represent him.
He was released from prison in March 2012.
email: ccannon@newschannel5.com
