Jury rejects damage suit

A superior court jury Oct. 23 ruled the defendant in a civil suit involving a winter driving accident in Pullman was not at fault and declined to award damages. The jury returned its verdict at 6:55 p.m. after beginning deliberation shortly after 5 p.m. following a three-day trial.

Ani Derderian and her spouse filed the suit against Breanna Bart in February of 2011. The suit sought damages after the vehicle Bart was driving struck the back of a vehicle in which Derderian was riding on B Street in Pullman Feb. 6, 2008. The suit noted both vehicles were headed down the grade on B when it was raining and snowing. The driver of the car in which Derderian was riding stopped on the hill to avoid oncoming traffic in the winter driving conditions and Bart was unable to stop the vehicle she was driving and slid into the back of the stopped vehicle.