LUBBOCK, TX. — In the Spring of 2007, a man named Charles Robison was on top of a tarped trailer belonging to West Star Transportation. He fell off, injured himself very badly, and last week a Texas court awarded Robison $5.5 million.

Jurors in Judge Ruben Reye’s 72nd District Court returned the verdict last Wednesday.

According to a statement form Robison’s lawyer Mark Lanier, the jury awarded Robison “slightly more than $1 million for physical pain, physical impairment and mental anguish; $411,724 for loss of earnings capacity; $3,716,575 for past and future medical expenses; and $400,000 for loss of consortium.”

“As a result of the fall,” Lanier stated, “Robinson suffered multiple skull and facial fractures and brain injuries that affected his speech and mental functions. He is no longer able to work, care for himself or live independently and will require medical attention the rest of his life.

“The jury decided that West Star provided no safety equipment or any other safer means of placing the tarp” Lanier said.