Injured Scout to collect $14 million

A Cook County jury on Monday awarded $14.2 million to a BoyScout who was in a coma for eight months with a broken skull as aresult of a 1988 automobile accident near Palatine.

Oakley Lowe, 13, of Chicago's Uptown area, has undergone 18operations, his face is disfigured and he uses a wheelchair becausehe is unable to walk more than 10 feet at a time, said RobertClifford, Oakley's attorney.

Oakley, who was 11 at the time, was the lone survivor in a cardriven by Adam Reichert, 60, of 1103 W. Cornelia, Chicago. Reichertdied at the scene. Another passenger, Derrick Hart, 11, also ofUptown, died from injuries five days after the April 29, 1988accident.

The three were on their way to a Boy Scout jamboree at DeerGrove Forest Preserve near Palatine.

Reichert was northbound on Quentin Road when he made a slow leftturn into the path of a van driven by Daniel Haacker, of Bartlett,who was accused during the trial of driving too fast and failing toreduce speed.

After a five-week trial, the jury found that Reichert was 90percent at fault, but the insurance companies of the Boy Scouts ofAmerica will pay the $12.8 million because he was a Boy Scoutvolunteer, Clifford said. The Boy Scout's primary insurancecompanies are St. Paul Fire and Marine Co. and Reliance Insurance Co.of New York.

The insurance company of Haacker, who was deemed by the jury tobe 10 percent at fault, will pay the balance, Clifford said. Haackerwas covered by Sentry Insurance Co.

Since the collision, Oakley's medical expenses have reached$700,000, and future medical expenses could total up to $12 millionin today's dollars, Clifford estimated.