Teresa Johnston, age thirteen, was acting as a good samaritan and walking the dog of an elderly neighbor in the University community complex when one of the trees in the common area fell. Teresa suffered severe and life-altering injuries including head trauma, TBI, and facial fractures.

The defense argued that it was one of the wettest winters in many years with heavy winds and heavy rainfall and a tree falling in those conditions was simply an act of God.

The case settled for $14 million in March of 2019, one month before the trial date.