Defense Verdict

Paul S. Jones and Joseph F. Scarpa received a defense verdict for the store in a Products Liability case where the store was sued under the theory of strict liability. The plaintiff worked as a superintendent for a roofing company. His company purchased a folding ladder from the store for use on the job. The plaintiff claimed that he was climbing the ladder to access a roof when one of the hinge locking bolts broke. The ladder collapsed and the plaintiff fell to the ground severely fracturing his left ankle which required internal fixation surgery. Also, his doctors’ testified at trial that plaintiff would need a second surgery to fuse the ankle joint to eliminate ongoing complaints of pain. Plaintiff’s past medical expenses were $50K. His doctors estimated another $50K for future medical care, including the future surgery. Plaintiff’s vocational expert and economic expert both testified that the plaintiff sustained over $381K in lost wages and lost earning capacity due to his permanent physical limitations. Read More