Florida judge upholds $2.6 million jury award to Wichita tourist

A judge upheld a $2.6 million judgment awarded to a Wichita tourist whose skull was fractured when she was run over by a truck driven by a lifeguard.

Volusia County had appealed part of the judgment handed down by a jury in favor of Erin Joynt, a Wichita woman who was injured while lying on the beach in 2011. The judge ruled Monday after the county had appealed a $600,000 portion of the judgment granted for compensation for future medical bills and earning capacity.

Joynt, 36, was also awarded $500,000 for past suffering and $1.5 million for future suffering. Deputy County Attorney Larry Smith says officials may still decide to seek a reduction in other amounts.

Joynt, her husband and two children had left Wichita for a spontaneous vacation to Florida. She was sunbathing on the beach while her husband and two young children played in the ocean. She suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs, fractures of the bones under her eyes, skull fractures and damage to her hearing in the accident.

Joynt’s attorney John Phillips says he will seek a speedy resolution.

This story was originally published August 19, 2014 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Florida judge upholds $2.6 million jury award to Wichita tourist."