A former New York Times columnist received a jury verdict of $85,000,000 on December 4, 2018 following a trial in Manhattan Supreme Court before Justice Barbara Jaffe. The plaintiff was a pedestrian who testfied that while crossing the street in the West Village in July 2015 and while in the crosswalk, he was struck by a double decker tourist bus and dragged some distance.

The pedestrian's left leg and foot were crushed damaging an artery and vein requiring 10 surgeries. He remains on painkillers and will wear a brace on his foot forever which prevents him pursuing a long time activity - running. Despite the availability of video tape evidence from nearby surveillance cameras that captured the accident - the defendant's argued that the pedestrian was at fault for walking into the bus. The jury rejected this defense and after deliberating only three hours awarded the pedestrian $45,000,000 for past pain and suffering and $40,000,000 for future pain and suffering. The parties quickly entered into a settlement which avoids an appeal. Sipher v Gray Line New York Tours