JURY VERDICT: $385,000 FOR WORKER’S BROKEN WRIST CAUSED BY CONTRACTOR’S DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT
A contractor’s bucket truck is missing a piece of safety equipment – a fiberglass guard that keeps debris away from the hand controls in the bucket. Nevertheless, the contractor lends the bucket truck to a tree-cutting company. A lifetime arborist has a working interview with the tree cutting company, which requires him to use the […]
$150,000 FOR OFFICER INJURED WHILE EXECUTING SEARCH WARRANT
Aside from the importance of photographs, here is the takeaway for public safety officers around the state – landowners must keep their property safe for visitors where people are expected to walk.
$6 MILLION PAID TO FAMILY OF OFFICER KILLED ON DETAIL
A contractor parks two large utility trucks back to back while setting up for an ongoing project on Main Street at an intersection with Booth Street. There is heavy traffic in this area with vehicles approaching the work site from multiple directions. Many of the vehicles pass alongside the two trucks and crew, while others […]
$225,000 FOR OFFICER IN CRUISER HIT IN AN INTERSECTION
Paul Arret drives north, approaching an intersection in a residential neighborhood with his grandson in the front passenger seat. A police cruiser drives west approaching the same intersection. Mr. Arret has a stop sign. The police officer does not. Mr. Arret does not stop. The two vehicles collide in the middle of the intersection. Francis […]
$1 MILLION FOR OFFICER’S FRIEND CUT OFF BY CAR
Mr. Driver travels down a road he knows very well on a clear, Fall day. He readies himself to turn left into a gas station. Sitting in the front passenger seat is his wife who sees a motorcyclist approaching from the opposite direction. She yells to watch out. Mr. Driver does not yield the right […]
$500,000 FOR INJURED EMPLOYEE FROM EMPLOYER WHO LET ITS WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE LAPSE
A 55 year old worker suffered second and third degree burns to his foot at work while cleaning heavy equipment with a high pressure steam power washer. His employer had no workers compensation insurance at the time; the policy having been cancelled for non-payment of premiums months before. The employee hired us after months of […]
$20,000 FOR OFFICER BITTEN BY HOMEOWNER’S DOG
In a quiet, residential community, a neighbor hears screaming from the backyard next door. The neighbor reports this to the police who respond to the house to check on the disturbance. The police knock on the door and announce themselves. No one answers. The police open a screen door and announce their presence again. Three German […]
$1.95 MILLION FOR OFFICER INJURED IN UNPLANNED WORK ZONE
A contractor is doing construction work in a right turn lane at a busy intersection. The contractor decides to close off the right turn lane using some cones. Debbie Driver approaches the intersection. She intends on using the right turn lane, as she does every day on her way home from work. There are no […]
$190,000 FOR LEG BROKEN ON ICY DRIVEWAY
Just because there were record snowfalls, property owners are not excused from their legal responsibility to visitors of their property.
$400,000 FOR OFFICER INJURED WORKING STADIUM EVENT
Officers frequently work extra hours during details at events in order to financially support themselves and their families. Events such as concerts, sporting events and fairs which bring in large crowds must be kept under control by local police, especially when alcohol is served at the event. Officers frequently work these details at venues such […]
DRUNK DRIVER COSTS BAR $475,000
Over the course of five hours, a bar serves one man ten to fifteen beers and three tequila shots before watching the man walk out to his car. Shortly after driving away from the bar around midnight, the man crosses over into oncoming traffic. A police officer sees headlights drift over the double yellow line […]
$123,000 FOR OFFICER INJURED IN FLEEING CAR PURSUIT
Prior to this officer’s injury on duty, he attended one of my twenty minute talks at a local meeting at his department, which proved extremely valuable. During this talk, I explained changes police officers need to make to their personal automobile insurance policies in the event of an injury on or off duty involving a motor […]
UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTY COSTS PARENTS $125,000
The police arrive at a suburban home in response to reports of a late night underage drinking party where they find a crowd of 75 youths in and outside the home. Fearful mostly of what their parents will do if they are caught, the underage drinkers (…you guessed it…) run in all directions. The police […]
$299,000 VERDICT FOR OFFICER INJURED IN FOOT PURSUIT
It is after midnight in a rural section of town. A concerned resident calls 911 to report a commotion and revving engines in a nearby storage yard. Officers are dispatched to investigate. Another 911 call comes in. The resident now reports hearing glass breaking. Officers arrive at the dark storage yard 100 yards off the […]
$3 MILLION FOR OFFICER WHO SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY
At last, the news media is filled with stories about professional athletes and soldiers who suffer traumatic brain injuries, raising the public awareness and understanding about these invisible injuries. Missing from this discussion are the police officers who suffer traumatic head injuries in collisions, as well as in scuffles and falls. Vehicle crashes are a […]