Trooper awarded $1.25M for fall off running board

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper has won a $1.25 million jury verdict against a Greensburg repair shop for negligently installing a running board on his pickup truck.

After a four-day trial that concluded Friday night before Judge Gary Caruso, Westmoreland County jurors determined that John Tamewitz, 42, of Irwin, should be compensated for back injuries he suffered when he fell as a running board collapsed while he attempted to enter the truck on Jan. 1, 2001.

Tamewitz, who is now stationed in York for the state police, contended during the civil court trial that his fall aggravated a pre-existing back injury.

"He deals with the pain from this to this day," said Gary Ogg, Tamewitz's lawyer.

According to court records, Tamewitz purchased his truck in July 2000. The following December, he had the running board, mud flaps and a bug shield installed by Eastern Off Road, located on Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg. Eastern Off Road is owned by Smeal Enterprises of Centre County.

Tamewitz contends the running board was incorrectly installed and that caused his fall.

The attorney for Eastern Off Road and Smeal Enterprises could not be reached for comment about the verdict, but the company contended the injuries were not as serious as Tamewitz claimed, according to court records.