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Plaintiff closings on non-economics in slip-and-fall trial

Posted by Courtroom View Network on Feb 23, 2022 12:02:18 PM

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The trial: Bartholomew v. The Kroger Co. 

 

The attorney: Dave Fox

 

Case summary: Vicki Bartholomew injured her shoulder in a fall at a Ralphs Grocery store in 2015. She underwent a shoulder replacement, but the new shoulder subsequently became infected, requiring future removal of the hardware, treatment of the infection, and a new replacement.  Ralphs admitted liability for the accident but argued Bartholomew's condition had improved. 

 

Synopsis: Fox walks jurors through a list of Bartholomew's injuries, weaving in definitions from California law as to what is recoverable in non-economic damages, complete with a board highlighting those elements. He emphasizes the impact the chronic pain has had on Bartholomew's sleep, which he contends further diminishes her day-to-day life. Fox reminds jurors of the timeline concerning Bartholomew's treatment, but does not repeat these events in detail at this stage of trial. Finally, Fox addresses defense contentions that Batholomew's condition had improved by reiterating testimony from Batholomew and her family concerning her health in the months before the trial. 

 

The verdict: $1.4 million, including $1.1 million in pain and suffering.

 

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Topics: California, Premises Liabiity, Non-economic damages, Closings, Plaintiff, Damages, Joint/soft-tissue injury, Damages-only trial, Slip-and-fall