Mitchell v. C.C. Sanitation Company, Inc.

R. L. Mitchell (plaintiff) was a truck driver for Herrin Transportation Company (Herrin). Mitchell was injured when his truck was hit by William W. Crane (defendant), a truck driver for C.C. Sanitation Company, Inc. (C.C. Sanitation) (defendant). Mitchell sued the defendants for approximately $40,000.00 in damages, which included pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and medical expenses. Herrin sustained damages totaling $388.65, which included damages to its truck and a payment made to Mitchell’s physician as a result of the accident. Herrin had its claim for $388.65 handled by Ross C. Hall of Southwestern Claims Adjustment Company. Hall prepared two releases in favor of the defendants. The first was signed by Herrin and Mitchell for the $388.65, representing Herrin’s damages. The second was signed by Mitchell and represented $62.12 he had spent for medical care. Mitchell brought suit against Crane and C.C. Sanitation seeking to set aside the two releases on the grounds that he had signed them under duress. Mitchell alleged that Hall, working for Herrin and in conjunction with C.C. Sanitation, had threatened that Mitchell would lose his job if he did not sign the releases. According to Mitchell, he would not have otherwise signed the releases. The defendants moved for summary judgment on the ground that the releases were enforceable. The trial court granted the motion.