A New Orleans jury Thursday awarded $2.1 million to a former streetcar driver hurt in a 1999 collision with a garbage truck on the St. Charles Avenue line.  Patricia Sneed suffered a back injury May 2, 1999, about 4:30a.m. when a River Parish Disposal truck driven by Ronald Williams backed out of Fern Street and struck the streetcar according to the complaint filed in civil court.  Sneed sued Williams, River Parish Disposal and its insurer, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.  After Deliberating for 1 1/2 hours, a jury found in Sneed's favor by a 10-2 vote and ordered the defendants to pay $2,168,000 in damages.  They have 30 days to file an appeal.  Their attorneys couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.  Sneed a widow supporting five children, had worked for the Regional Transit Authority for 13years but hasn't been able to work since the accident because of her injury, said her attorney, Bob Manard.  "She was thrown out of her seat against the rail and onto the floor," he said.  The four-day trial took place in Judge Rose Ledet's courtroom.                                          

Anonymous. "Ex-streetcar driver wins damages."  Times Picayune 9 May 2002: 2 D/E