ST. LOUIS — A family has petitioned the St. Louis Circuit Court to approve a $250,000 wrongful death settlement following a 2022 automobile collision that claimed her life.
The legal filing, filed April 25, outlines the agreement reached between the plaintiffs and the insurance companies representing the driver at fault, Madeline Gray, and others involved in the case.
According to court documents, Juanita J. Prince was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck by another vehicle operated by Gray on or about Aug. 22, 2022.
“Juanita J. Prince died following an automobile collision in which Juanita J. Prince was a passenger in vehicle that was struck by the vehicle that Defendant, Madeline Gray, was operating, on or about August 22, 2022,” the complaint states. “Juanita J. Prince leaves behind two adult daughters, Juanita Prince Correa and Tommye Reynolds; and one adult son, David Prince. Juanita J. Prince was not married at the time of her death.”
Prince died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. She was not married at the time of her death and is survived by her three adult children: David Prince, Juanita Prince Correa and Tommye Reynolds.
The plaintiffs, represented by attorney Daniel O. Stack of Brown & Crouppen, have filed a petition requesting judicial approval of the wrongful death settlement.
The proposed settlement totals $250,000, to be paid by American Family Insurance as full and final compensation to the decedent’s heirs for the loss of their mother. The breakdown of the settlement includes two separate policy claims.
First, $150,000 is attributed to claim number 01-005-143200, which represents the underinsured motorist coverage limit of policy number 410272872984 issued to Tommye Reynolds.
Second, $100,000 stems from claim number 01-005-141300, which reflects the policy limits under a personal automobile liability policy issued to Madeline Gray, identified in the petition as the at-fault driver.
In addition to the amounts above, the plaintiffs will receive a further $10,000 from Geico Auto Insurance under Juanita J. Prince’s Medical Reimbursement Policy. That portion is designated for medical costs related to the accident and is separate from the wrongful death compensation.
“The parties hereto have agreed to a settlement of this claim. Plaintiffs, David Prince, Juanita Prince Correa, and Tommye Reynolds, have agreed to accept the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($250,000.00), from American Family Insurance, as full and final settlement of their claim for damages against Defendant Madeline Gray for the wrongful death of their mother, Juanita J. Prince,” the complaint states.
The petition asks the court to approve the full settlement under Missouri Revised Statute §537.095, which governs wrongful death claims in the state. The statute requires court approval of settlements in such cases to ensure fair allocation among the heirs and compliance with legal standards.
The plaintiffs are also requesting that the court enter judgment confirming the settlement terms and provide any additional relief deemed appropriate.
The law firm Brown & Crouppen is representing the family in the matter.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number: 2522-CC00772
