$12.6 Million Verdict

Result

Practice Area

Amount

$12.6 Million

On August 6, 2021, following six days of testimony and under three hours of deliberation at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, a panel of 12 jurors awarded $12,622,238.75 in favor of plaintiff, represented by Kramer Trial Lawyers’ Dan Kramer and Teresa Johnson.

Mr. Acosta, a 40-year old lighting technician, was injured at a strip mall in Riverside, California when a hatch door fell onto his back as he was attempting to access a building rooftop to conduct repairs.  The incident resulted in two spinal fusion surgeries and ongoing pain, as well as future surgeries.  The defendants, the property owner and manager, refused to take responsibility for the incident despite knowing about the dangerous condition of the hatch door for two years prior to the incident, and failing to fix it.

At trial, the defense asked for a full defense verdict, and disputed the nature and extent of Plaintiff’s claimed damages, which encompassed medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering damages.   The jury found no comparative fault on Plaintiff, instead finding that the property management company was 80% at fault, and the property owner was 20% at fault.

“This verdict represents a win not only for our client and Kramer Trial Lawyers, but will also hopefully send a message to property owners and managers everywhere that it is not right to permit dangerous conditions remain on their property,” says attorney Daniel K. Kramer.