NEWS SUN STAFF REPORTER

A federal court jury deliberated just an hour before agreeing Monday to award $11 million to the family of an 18-year-old Zion man killed when his far was struck from behind by a semi-trailer truck.

Alberto Davila Jr. was driving his Honda Civic east on Stearns School Rd, near Gurnee, and turned north onto route 41 shortly before 5 a.m. Aug. 24, 2002.

An 18-wheeler truck, driven northbound by Thomas Klatt, 58, of New London, Wis., overtook the Honda about 150 feet North of the intersection, overriding the car and pushing it into the 3-foot concrete median.

Davila and a rear seat passenger in the car, Enrique Manduhano, also 18, were both killed. Another passenger in the car, Alejandro Flores, also of Zion and then 18, survived the crash.

Flores and Klatt required hospitalization for several days.

Davila was to begin classes at the College of Lake County in two days, said attorney Robert Baizer, who with Joseph Kolar represented the Davila family.

Davila "was a terrific kid from a wonderful, close-knit, hard working family," said Baizer, whose law practice is based in Highland Park. Davila was described during the trial by friends and relatives as respectful, caring, intelligent, and thoughtful."

Kolar said the most moving moment of the trial came when Davila's 14 year-old brother described Davila as his role model.

Representatives for the trucking line, Holland MI. based USF Holland, denied liability and claimed that Davila was negligent and solely responsible.

While the truck driver testified in a deposition that he was traveling 40 mph in the 45 mph zone and slammed on the brakes 100 feet before the crash, Baizer said an electronic "black box" on the truck revealed the truck had been going 57 mph at the point of impact and the truck brakes had not been touched.

The truck driver claimed to have had the green light, but Baizer was skeptical.

"Based on stoplight sensors at the intersection, the only way the truck driver could have had a green light was if Alberto ran a red light at Stearns School Road onto Route 41 going 25 mph" around a tight left-had turn.

There was not issue of alcohol or drug use, Baizer sod, adding that jurors found the USF Holland suggestions to be ludicrous."

Baizer said USF Holland spent 250,000 on defense experts, including "&125,000 for a sleep expert who said the crash occurred because Alberto was tired.

"This case is an obvious example of what happens when a corporation refuses to take responsibility for its own actions," Baizer said.

The two-week trial was heard in Chicago before U.S. District Court Judge Blanche Manning. Representatives of USF Holland, the Chicago-based law firm of Sachnoff and Weaver Ltd., could not be reached for comment.