Man protests ruling with $150,000 in quarters

MARION, Ill., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- An Illinois man protested a court ruling in his son's wrongful death case by sending $150,000 in quarters to a pair of law offices.

Roger Herrin of Williamson County, whose 15-year-old son, Michael, was one of four people killed when the Jeep they were riding in was hit by a truck that ran a stop sign in 2001, said he decided to have the sum delivered to the courthouse in quarters "because I couldn't do it in pennies," WSIL-TV, Carbondale, reported Friday.

The original wrongful death suit filed by the families of the victims resulted in a judge ruling Herrin should get $600,000 of the $800,000 insurance money from the Jeep the victims were riding in, but the other families appealed the decision and won.

Herrin, who the appeals court heard had received $1.65 million from other insurance coverage, was ordered to refund a portion of his share from the Jeep's insurance payout.

Herrin said his decision to pay the sum in quarters is a symbolic measure to show his support for his family.

"To support my deceased son and ex-wife, I have to fight it to the very end and this is [the] final end," Herrin said.

Attorneys representing the families of the other victims said they were barred from commenting by confidentiality agreements.