Workplace Accident $1,000,000 Settlement for Driver of Truck
A 46 year old truck driver, delivering a load of meat to a food distributer, was injured. A fork lift was being used to pull a chain attached to a skid of meat. Plaintiff's right hand got caught in the chain as an employee of the food distributer was operating the forklift. The Plaintiff suffered fractures of the carpal bones of the right wrist; and, compression of the medial nerve.
The Plaintiff underwent 3 surgeries.
Workplace Accident Settlement: $3,245,000.00
This case involved a thirty-one year old woman who was cleaning the men's bathroom, in a warehouse in Kings County, in preparation for a party and noticed paint stains on the floor. Previously, this floor of the warehouse was a factory where sweaters were manufactured.
The plaintiff noticed that in a 5 gallon container there was about 8-12 ounces of the cleaning fluid. The plaintiff put the cleaning fluid on the floor to remove the paint stains with a brush.
There was a closed closet near the area where the solution had been placed on the floor. The plaintiff did not know that there was a hot water heater behind the closed closet.
Within a very short time period (less than 30 seconds) a flash fire erupted as a result of the vapors from the solution migrating along the floor to the hot water heater. The plaintiff fell several times as she attempted to leave the flash fire. The flash fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system.
The plaintiff then ran from the warehouse area to an apartment located on the same floor. When the fire department arrived at the scene, they documented a small rubbish fire and left. They did not see any injured person at the scene.
The plaintiff was taken, by her husband and the tenant of the apartment, to Jamaica Hospital in Queens County. She was then transferred to New York Hospital Burn Center in Manhattan. Plaintiff went into a coma and was diagnosed with third degree burns over 68% of her body. Plaintiff underwent numerous surgeries.
A lawsuit was commenced against manufacturer and distributor of the solution for failure to warn that the solution was flammable and against the owner of the building.
The defendant maintained the accident did not happen as plaintiff said. The defendant stated warnings on the container were adequate.
After 6 years of litigation with 27 depositions and numerous experts the case was settled for 3.245 million dollars.
Pedestrian Auto Accident Settlement $2,420,000.00
The plaintiff, a 32 year old man, was crossing Ocean Parkway and Avenue S in Brooklyn. The plaintiff was standing on the center median at the time of accident.
The defendant's vehicle attempted to beat the traffic light, which had turned red. As co-defendant's vehicle made a left turn, on a green light, the cars collided. The vehicle which had attempted to beat the light mounted the median and struck the plaintiff.
The plaintiff sustained fractures of left leg, clavicle, scapula and nose, along with a cerebral concussion.
The plaintiff underwent surgery for his leg fractures. The plaintiff suffers from loss of sense of smell: the plaintiff made a very good recovery from his fractures.
Pedestrian Auto Accident Settlement: $750,000.00
The plaintiff, a 20 year old woman, was crossing the street. She was in crosswalk with a green pedestrian (walk) light when she was struck by an EMS Vehicle making a left turn.
The EMS driver testified the vehicle's lights and sirens were on.
The plaintiff testified there were no lights and sirens. Plaintiff suffered ankle and elbow fractures requiring multiple surgeries.
At the trial, the City of New York requested that the jury be charged with reckless disregard for the safety of others because the driver was responding to an emergency.
