A Lake County jury awarded $2,486,718 to a man who was injured when his vehicle was rear-ended by a county employee.

On Jan. 15, 2019, plaintiff Brian Thomas, 22, a college student and part-time Publix employee, was driving a car on County Road 44, in Lake County. Thomas was stopped at a red light with one vehicle in front of him. The driver of that vehicle was waiting for traffic to clear in order to make a right turn. A Lake County employee was driving a county car directly behind Thomas' vehicle. The county employee struck the rear of Thomas' car. Thomas claimed injuries to his neck and back.