Jury orders Miccosukee man to pay $35M for wrongful death

Tuesday, October 1, 2013  

A jury in Florida ordered a member of the Miccosukee Tribe to pay $35 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Thomas Cypress was convicted of DUI manslaughter for the deaths of Robert and Paulette Kirkpatrick in February 2009. He admitted he had been drinking before the incident and pleaded guilty.

Cypress, who is serving a 12-year-sentence, was sued by the couple's adult children. After a two-day trial last week, the jury ordered him to pay $30 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

Cypress is the brother of former chairman Billy Cypress.

Get the Story:
Jury award in West Miami-Dade double fatality DUI crash: $35 million (The Miami Herald 10/1)
Jury Awards $5 Million In Deadly DUI Case (CBSMiami 9/30)
Jury awards millions in punitive damages in DUI crash (WSVN 9/30)

Miccosukee Tribe asked to pay $3.2M for wrongful death case (06/21)
Judge fines attorneys $50K for handling of Miccosukee clients (04/18)
Lawyer contradicts testimony from former Miccosukee clients (4/17)
Miccosukee family doesn't know who paid $3.1M to legal team (4/16)