In June 2020, Alona Levcenko was a passenger in a speeding Lamborghini that crashed in southwest Miami-Dade. The car, driven by John Aks at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone, collided with a county truck, leading to Levcenko’s untimely death at 27.
Kelley | Uustal recently settled the wrongful death lawsuit against Aks, securing $4.7 million for the Levcenko family.
“She was generous. Beautiful, inside and out. She had so many dreams,” said her sister, Julija Levcenko, who lives in Italy.
Attorney John Uustal commented on the case, stating, “We are committed to seeking justice for Alona and her family. This settlement is a step towards holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”
Alona, originally from Latvia, moved to South Florida, where she lived in Pompano Beach and worked as an administrative assistant.
Aks, who is still facing a criminal charge of vehicular homicide in Miami-Dade, did not have attorneys available for comment.
“The driver’s insurance company didn’t pay the $250,000 in insurance limits, even though they knew the Lamborghini was nearing 100 mph,” Uustal said. “Clearly they could have paid the family in good faith.”
As a result of not doing so, the driver’s insurance company had to pay $3.1 million as part of the $4.7 million settlement, which was the full amount of the damage suffered by the Levcenko family.
“My heart is broken,” Julija Levcenko said. “My sister has a lot of friends who miss her. I still speak of her in the present tense. I know she’s gone but will always be with me.”
The case raised troubling aspects of a new Florida law that no longer penalizes insurance companies for failing to pay a victim in good faith when it’s clear the case will favor the victim.
“And that’s the key: There’s no penalty,” added Uustal. “They need a law that requires insurance companies to act in good faith. Good faith is giving the money when they know they owe it. But now there’s no penalty, so now insurance companies, being insurance companies, will delay.”
Read the full Sun Sentinel Article here: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/08/15/family-of-pompano-woman-killed-in-speeding-lamborghini-settles-for-4-7-million/
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