United Group Insurance

Cass County wins nearly $12,000 in court case

News

April 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A jury in Atlantic, Tuesday, awarded Cass County nearly $12,000 in a case filed by the County against the driver of a vehicle which collided with a County Conservation vehicle on June 14th, 2010. Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner told the Board of Supervisors the decision against 26-year old Sean M. Bloomfield, of Atlantic, was handed down in Cass County District Court, and awards the County $11,791.80 in damages. Costs to handle the case in court will also be assessed to Bloomfield.

The accident happened as Bloomfield drove a vehicle around a parked semi as he was exiting a driveway, and collided with a car driven by Lora Schwendinger, of Lewis. Neither driver was seriously injured. Damage from the crash was estimated at the time, at around $9,000. Bloomfield was cited for failure to have insurance, and in July 2010 negotiated a voluntary plea of guilty to a charge of Violation of Financial Liability-Accident related.

Feistner said the County went after Bloomfield, because he didn’t have insurance at the time, and was unwilling or unable to pay for the damage to the County vehicle. He says even if the man currently doesn’t have any assets from which to pay for the judgment, there are other ways the funds can be recovered, including his future tax returns, or leans on his property.