Press Contact:
Jailyn Marcel jailyn@thefrankycollective.com
( c ) 832.563.835
BEXAR COUNTY JURY AWARDS $81 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT AGAINST FORMER DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL IN WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT
SAN ANTONIO, TX, April 29, 2024 — A Bexar County, Texas jury has returned an $81,720,000 verdict against former deputy U.S. Marshal Jonathan Paul Jones in connection with a drunk driving collision that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Taylor McCowan. Represented by Clive Markland, Nathan Mays and Rob Cantu of Roberts Markland LLP, the parents of the deceased — Raquel Hatch and James McCowan, acting as next friends of Taylor McCowan — were the plaintiffs in this wrongful death lawsuit against Jones, who was a United States Marshal at the time of the incident.
The case involved allegations that on January 31, 2020, Jones, along with several other San Antonio U.S. Marshals, became intoxicated at San Antonio patio bar, The Block. On his drive away from the bar, Jones entered the wrong direction onto the N. Loop 1604 exit ramp colliding head-on with Taylor McCowan, a 23-year old nursing student and recent graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio. McCowan was driving home from bible study. Jones tested more than twice the legal alcohol limit in Texas. The jury heard evidence that Jones failed to render any medical assistance to McCowan, who was conscious and trapped in her vehicle for 40 minutes before being cut out of her car when Life Flight arrived at the scene. McCowan sustained catastrophic head and neck injuries, living in a coma for two weeks before she ultimately died from her injuries. Jones is currently serving an 11-year sentence after being convicted by a Bexar County jury on manslaughter charges..
“Despite Mr. Jones’ reckless decisions that lead to this horrible tragedy, he has yet to take any responsibility for causing this accident that took our beautiful daughter from us. Taylor truly was a bright beam of light, and we miss immeasurably. Although this verdict does nothing to bring her back, we are now able to properly memorialize Taylor’s contributions as a citizen of the world and continue her mission,” said Raquel Hatch, McCowan’s mother.
“The jury accepted its responsibility to not only compensate this grieving family but to also send a message to Texas drivers who choose to drive home drunk instead of calling a cab or Uber. Mr. Jones, a commissioned federal peace officer at the time, had a duty to protect citizens like Taylor McCowan but instead chose to put the lives of San Antonio drivers at risk. Unfortunately, Ms. McCowan paid the ultimate price for these reckless decisions, and the jury was asked to try to fix that,” said Clive Markland.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact Jailyn Marcel at jailyn@thefrankycollective.com.
About Roberts Markland, LLP
Roberts Markland LLP is a Houston-based trial law firm specializing in representing plaintiffs catastrophically injured by the negligence or recklessness of others. Led by attorneys Sean Roberts and Clive Markland, the firm’s reputation has been earned through extensive trial and appellate experience, proudly representing hundreds of clients, which includes the achievement of garnering the highest personal injury verdict in the history of Texas for an upper extremity injury against United Airlines. For more information, please contact Roberts Markland LLP at 713.630.0900, or visit https://www.robertsmarkland.com.
Original Article: Jury awards $81 million to family of woman killed by deputy U.S. Marshal in drunken driving crash