Executive Summary
- Judge David Mouton approved a $150,000 settlement for the parents of Tucker Berry.
- The lawsuit alleged negligence involving a golf cart incident where Berry sustained fatal injuries.
- Defendants Brant Cullen and Kreg Myers denied wrongdoing but are released from future civil liability.
- Cullen faces a separate involuntary manslaughter charge in Jasper County.
JASPER COUNTY, Mo. – A Missouri circuit court judge has approved a $150,000 settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Tucker Berry, a 21-year-old Lockwood firefighter who died following an off-duty incident involving a golf cart.
Judge David Mouton formally approved the agreement regarding the death of Berry, concluding the civil litigation filed by Samuel and Tonya Berry. According to the settlement terms, the plaintiffs will receive $99,263.13, while the remaining $50,736.87 is allocated to their legal representation at the Cowherd Law Firm.
The lawsuit, originally filed in Jasper County in July, named Brant Cullen of Carl Junction and Kreg Myers of Cassville as defendants. Court filings state the plaintiffs alleged negligence, claiming Cullen and Myers were driving golf carts erratically and racing at excessive speeds. The complaint asserted that Berry was thrown from a cart driven by Cullen, causing him to strike his head and sustain fatal injuries.
The judgment releases Myers, Cullen, and the owners of the golf carts—identified as Ray and Kimberly Maxwell and Camden and James Ellis—from any future civil liability regarding the incident. The court documents explicitly note that Myers and Cullen continue to deny any negligence and admit no wrongdoing in the death of Berry.
Judicial Proceedings and Liability
While the civil matter has been resolved through financial settlement, the incident remains the subject of criminal proceedings. Brant Cullen faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter in Jasper County in connection with Berry’s death and is scheduled for a court appearance next week. This case highlights the distinct separation between civil liability, often resolved through monetary settlements to mitigate risk, and criminal culpability, which focuses on statutory violations and penal consequences. It is important to note that all individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
