A 73-year-old retired millworker drove with his wife to a local McDonalds for breakfast. The entire parking lot was icy, but he was able to make it safely into the restaurant. Upon leaving, he slipped and fell on some ice, striking the back of his head. He needed six staples to close the wound and continued to have neurological problems. The franchise which owned this particular McDonalds was sued. After multiple depositions were taken, the case settled. … [Read more...]

A 53-year-old lawyer was walking on a dark path toward a restaurant while at a resort for a Bar conference. There was a large decorative rock set in the middle of the path with a hidden ledge at its bottom edge. As she walked past the rock, her foot got caught, throwing her to the ground. She dislocated her foot and shattered one of her toes. She also fractured her pelvis. Because of diabetes and circulation problems in her extremities, tips of her toes had to be amputated. After multiple depositions, the insurance company for the resort settled the case just before trial. … [Read more...]

A 76-year-old woman was leaving a bed and bath store, walking through the foyer. As she neared the exit, she tripped on some rugs that were stacked in the corner, falling through the open sliding door onto the concrete pavement outside. She hit her head and fractured her hip. The rugs were stacked low and the available walking clearance was less than required under the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. After the store manager admitted in her deposition that in standard merchandising practice anything stacked under three feet is known to be a tripping hazard, the case settled. … [Read more...]

A 51-year-old woman was shopping at a local discount store. She began to exit the store through a glass door left open by another customer. As she walked through the doorway, the adjacent automatic doors struck her although they were supposed to deactivate when the side door was opened. The woman had a closed head injury and Achilles tendon injury.  After a lawsuit was filed and discovery documents exchanged, the case settled shortly before it was scheduled for a hearing. … [Read more...]

An 83-year-old woman was a resident of an assisted living facility. While she was using the bathroom, the aide who was supposed to be helping her, stepped out of the room to use a cell phone. The woman, who had suffered a stroke, and was unable to use her left side, fell to the floor. She cracked the vertebrae in her neck, two vertebrae in her lower back and fractured her pelvis. She was hospitalized and then had extensive rehab. The woman died, in part due to the complications from her fall and fractures. A claim was brought to recover damages by her sons. After the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services was reimbursed for a significant … [Read more...]

A 50-year-old salesman was unloading his car at a hotel?s front entrance. It was snowing and the weather was frigid. The outdoor surface of the hotel entrance was ceramic tile, a material more suited to indoor than outdoor use. The salesman slipped on the icy tile, seriously aggravating a pre-existing condition in his neck. The salesman's spinal surgeon recommended neck surgery. Since the responsible hotel was located outside of Pennsylvania, a local attorney was used to obtain a reasonable settlement. … [Read more...]

An 82-year-old widow was shopping at a local food cooperative. As she bent over to look at a display shelf, she was barreled over by a supply cart pushed recklessly by one of the cooperative?s employees. Her pelvis was cracked, and she had to spend time in a nursing facility for rehab. The claim against the food cooperative eventually settled. … [Read more...]

A 39-year-old dentist was leaving his office when he slipped and fell on ice in the parking lot. The building owner had neglected to provide gutters for rain water, which fell and froze and was then covered by a thin layer of snow. The dentist broke several fingers in his hand, making it difficult for him to do his job. After a lawsuit was filed and discovery taken, the case settled. … [Read more...]

A 75-year-old retired chief of police was taking a fishing trip. As he began to get off the boat, it was well below the adjacent dock. The fishing outfitter neglected to provide a step or other assistance. The man fell back into the boat, breaking his leg and ankle. The case settled after negotiations. … [Read more...]

A 72-year-old retired state store employee walked into a local beer market to buy some lottery tickets. He had polio in one leg that he developed as a child. As he turned to leave, a throw rug slipped under his foot, causing him to crash to the floor. The rug was not safely secured, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The man suffered torn rotator cuffs of both shoulders requiring two surgeries. The case settled satisfactorily just before opening statements to the jury. … [Read more...]