More than five years after a tractor-trailer operator's decision to park his big rig in the middle of a highway contributed to the death of another motorist, a central Georgia jury has awarded a historic $3.75 million verdict to the plaintiff's estate.

Having secured what plaintiff counsel said is the highest verdict in Dooly County history, the attorneys are pleased with the outcome. But in order to secure the check in the win column in the close-knit community, the team of Atlanta and Cordele attorneys had to first overcome some unexpected challenges.