A 22-year-old college student was a passenger struck from behind by a careless driver, causing permanent damage to her spine. The insurance company offered only $100,000 to settle the case despite the fact that the young women could no longer pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a chef and sharing the recipes taught to her by her beloved grandmother. After a week at trial, the Sussex County, NJ jury returned its verdict of $1.8 million in less than two hours. The insurance company appealed the case but Laddey Clark & Ryan was successful in defeating the appeal and obtaining the verdict amount. The young woman can now afford to continue with her physical therapy and intends to open a restaurant and hire a chef so she can continue the traditions of her family and pursue her new dream.
A 58-year-old real estate agent stepped into an elevator in a hotel in Lake Tahoe when the elevator suddenly dropped and slammed to a stop, causing severe and permanent injuries to his spine that required spinal surgery. The man was no longer able to work or pay his bills. The elevator company offered $12,500 to settle the case, which was tried in Reno, NV. The jury returned a verdict of $2 million after deliberating for an hour, finding that the elevator company was negligent in maintaining the elevator, which caused the catastrophic failure. The individual can now concentrate on his continued rehabilitation without fear of losing his home.
A 52-year-old motorcycle operator was sitting at a red light when a careless operator of a commercial pickup truck slammed into him from behind. The father of five sustained permanent damage to his spine, which will require a lifetime of medical care. He was in constant pain and could no longer coach his children's teams. The insurance company for the pickup truck offered $100,000 to settle the case during the trial. The jury returned a verdict of $19 million and verbally wished the man and his family the very best as they left the courtroom. The case was later settled on appeal.
A 54-year-old carpenter working in a hotel took the elevator to the parking level. The elevator, which had been neglected by the elevator maintenance company, malfunctioned and dropped rapidly, slamming to a stop when the emergency mechanical braking system activated. The carpenter was thrown into the metal door of the elevator and sustained permanent damage to his spine and serious urological issues. Although the man owed more than $250,000 to the workers compensation insurance company that was paying for his medical care, the elevator company offered $400,000 to settle the case. The jury returned a verdict of $3.98 million. The elevator company delayed paying the plaintiff and filed an appeal, convincing the Appellate Court that the trial judge had made a technical error on the Jury Verdict Form, thus necessitating the case to be tried a second time. The second jury, which was not told about the first trial, returned a verdict of $8 million and the case was settled on appeal. The man can now retire in peace and continue to pursue medical treatment.
