Examples of Cases Our Firm Has Handled
Effective Representation Throughout the State of Florida
Premises Liability/Negligent Security Case
Broward County Circuit Court. This case involved the rape of a minor male child in the bathroom of a building that had been leased by a State agency. The allegations against our client were based on negligent security and the Plaintiff sought psychological damages as a result of this incident. Our primary defense in this case was that the incident was not foreseeable. During trial, the Plaintiffs declined a $90,000 joint settlement offer ($15,000 from the State and $75,000 from the building owner). The jury trial resulted in a verdict for the defendants.
Automobile Negligence Case
Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Aggravated liability case involving a driver of a rental car who had a .32 blood alcohol level and was in prison because of the accident at the time of trial. We represented the driver. The Plaintiff sustained significant injuries including a blowout fracture of the orbit of the right eye, double vision, broken nose, torn medial collateral ligament, torn meniscus, transverse process fracture, neck sprain, ankle sprain, hearing loss, TMJ syndrome and a significant claim for loss of earning capacity. He had submitted to three surgeries as of the time of trial and four additional surgeries were recommended. Additionally, his wife had a claim for a broken tooth and post traumatic stress disorder. The jury found the co-defendant 20% at fault, awarded the Plaintiff total damages of $611,000 and concluded that his wife did not sustain a permanent injury. A $750,000 offer had been made prior to the jury verdict. The Plaintiffs demanded $3.5 million dollars.
Roadway Maintenance/Contractor Liability Case:
Broward County Circuit Court. The Plaintiff, a twenty-five year old white male was a rear seat passenger in a vehicle operated by a driver who was impaired. The driver struck seven barricades and then the rear of our insured's truck that was used as part of the maintenance of traffic plan for the roadway which was under construction. Our insured, the contractor did not have a maintenance of traffic plan in effect on the evening of the accident (attempted to submit a back-dated plan), utilized the wrong index as a reference and a flat bed truck with a mounted arrow board was used as part of the maintenance of traffic plan. The truck did not have any underride protection, had a modification containing a cement mixer that extended the rear of the truck and an attenuator was not used. The driver and the front seat passenger were killed. The Plaintiff sustained a severe head injury and was left in a persistent vegetative state which required twenty-four hour attendant care. The past medical care for the Plaintiff exceeded $1,000,000 and the future medical care and treatment was projected at $13,000,000. Our defense was that the accident was caused by an impaired driver. The vehicle owner paid $4,000,000 after the second week of trial which left us as the sole remaining defendant. The case settled after one month of trial for $900,000 as to our client.
Negligent Security Case:
Dade County Circuit Court. The Plaintiff was shot three times in the face by her boyfriend, who subsequently committed suicide. She claimed psychological injuries, neurological injuries, paralysis and loss of feeling in her left arm/hand and one of the bullets remained lodged near her spinal cord threatening the potential for additional paralysis. Liability was aggravated by the fact that our client, a security guard, was changing the motor oil in his car at the time of the shooting, was not armed as required by contract (carried a holster with a sock in it) and was providing the Plaintiff's boyfriend (who shot the Plaintiff) with information as to her activities in exchange for money. The Plaintiff initially demanded the $1,000,000 policy limits from both our insured and $1,000,000 from the premises owner. During the second day of trial, the case settled for $400,000 ($380,000 on behalf of our insured and $20,000 on behalf of the premises owner).
Automobile Negligence Case:
Palm Beach County Circuit Court. This was a case for wrongful death benefits on behalf of the parents of an unmarried 31 year old male. Plaintiff was traveling southbound when he collided with a tractor trailer that was making a left hand turn across a two lane rural highway. Plaintiff claimed that the defendant truck driver was negligent in making his turn and that because the truck was perpendicular across the roadway at night, it could not be seen. A jury trial resulted in a defense verdict.
Contact us to discuss our employment law consulting services. We have offices in Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota and Orange Park and travel to serve clients throughout the state. We also provide evening and weekend appointments by appointment. Ukrainian language services are available.