$5.34 Million Jury Verdict in Disputed Premises Liability Trial
Aaron Hicks of Hicks Law Firm Secures $5.34 Million Jury Verdict in Disputed Premises Liability Trial
Alhambra, California — Hicks Law Firm, led by trial attorney Aaron Hicks and Co-Counsel Nico Mamone of Bentley & More, have secured a significant jury verdict on behalf of a client injured in a disputed premises liability case arising from a fall at a Food4Less store in Los Angeles, California. After a contested trial, the jury returned a total verdict of $5,343,672 in favor of the Plaintiff.
Case Background
The case involved a trip-and-fall incident caused by a pallet and cooler stack that was negligently displayed on the salesroom floor of a Food4Less location. The pallet and cooler stacks were placed directly in front of a beer pallet display, restricting access to the merchandise. While attempting to retrieve a case of beer, the Plaintiff tripped over the pallet/cooler display and fell directly onto her rear end.
The Plaintiff contended that the pallet and cooler display was unsafe and violated the store’s own safety policies. Defendant Food4Less denied wrongdoing throughout the litigation and trial, disputing both negligence and substantial factor. The defense argued that the height and placement of the display were not unsafe and claimed that the Plaintiff’s own actions caused her to lose balance and fall.
Trial Evidence and Findings
Through the depositions of several store employees and Food4Less’s Person Most Knowledgeable (PMK), the Plaintiff established that the store violated its own safety policies. Evidence showed that Food4Less allowed a pallet display to exist on the salesroom floor at a height that the company itself deemed to be a safety risk.
The evidence demonstrated that the mere existence of the pallet display, in violation of store safety policies, was a substantial factor in causing the Plaintiff’s injuries.
Injuries and Damages
As a result of the fall, the Plaintiff suffered serious injuries to her lumbar spine and underwent a two-level spinal fusion. She was later diagnosed with adjacent segment disease and will require years of future medical treatment.
The jury awarded damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future loss of earnings, and past and future non-economic damages, resulting in a total verdict of $5,343,672.
Conclusion
This verdict represents a significant result in a heavily disputed premises liability case and reflects the jury’s agreement that Food4Less’s violation of its own safety policies created an unsafe condition that caused serious harm. The outcome marks a major victory for a well-deserving client.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
