Recent Verdicts
$12.8 Million Verdict - Furnace Explosion
Plaintiffs Rudolph Paci and James Sutch were burned when a half-ton furnace exploded, severely burning both men. Mr. Paci suffered burns over 65% of his body. He fell into a coma, and was administered last rites in anticipation of his death. Mr. Paci survived, but due to skin grafts over 95% of his body is permanently disfigured. He remains unable to work, as his sweat and oil glands were destroyed and his body is unable to regulate temperature. A Washington County jury awarded him $9.6 million and Jennifer, his wife, received $80,000.
Mr. Sutch also sustained severe burns, affecting 22% of his body, and 33% is permanently disfigured due to extensive skin grafting. He was able to return to work. The jury awarded Mr. Sutch $3.02 million and his Michelle was awarded $50,000.
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Settlements
Fall From Bridge - Skull Fracture and Degloving
Husband plaintiff fell 55-feet from bridge construction project, thereby sustaining multiple spinal burst fractures, skull fracture with facial and head degloving, fractured knee cap, and fractured foot. Plaintiffs alleged that defendant employer violated West Virginia's Mandolidis employer liability law, and that an equipment supplier defectively designed and built a remote-controlled system to operate a track hoe for bridge demolition.
Result: Confidential Settlement of over $4 Million
Mining Car Accident - Organ Loss
Board suspended from underground mine ceiling penetrated the passenger compartment of mine portal bus, causing severe abdominal injuries resulting in more than 15 abdominal surgeries, internal organ loss and infection. Plaintiff alleged that FMC Corporation's portal bus was defectively designed because it allowed a one-fourth inch Plexiglass shield to protect riders from foreign objects when portal bus was traveling at speeds of over 30 miles per hour. In addition, plaintiff alleged that defendant mine owner negligently failed to maintain mine conditions, which caused and allowed a one-by-six board to hang from ceiling and contact windshield of portal bus.
Result: Confidential Settlement of over $1 Million
Machine Accident - Amputation
Plaintiff's left hand and lower forearm were amputated from severe crush injury when left hand was pulled into a "horizontal mixing mill" when defective stop bar failed.
Result: Confidential Settlement of over $1 Million
Fall from Construction Site - Coma
Plaintiff was employed as an apprentice window glazier. While installing windows, he fell approximately 40-feet through a third story window and sustained catastrophic injuries, including fractured skull, coma, and multiple fractures and dislocations to his arms, legs, hands, wrists, and feet. Plaintiff had been instructed to work without safety equipment, including safety fall hazard protection equipment. Plaintiff's coworkers worked from an aerial basket suspended from a boom lift outside the at-issue building installing remaining window frames, while plaintiff worked inside, aligning and fastening the window framing material while unprotected
Result: Confidential Settlement
Fall through Defective Scaffolding - Severe Leg Fracture
Plaintiff, 38, suffered a severe lower leg fracture resulting in reconstructive surgery after he fell approximately 15-feet when the worksite scaffolding supplier provided non-OSHA approved scaffold planks, which broke across a knot in the wooden plank.
Result: $215,000 Settlement
Propane System Explosion - Death
Plaintiff's decedent was working in the guest house adjacent to his residence when a propane heating system leaked, causing a sudden explosion. Decedent suffered catastrophic burn injuries to 100% of his body, resulting in his death.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Forklift Accident - Near Amputation
Husband plaintiff, 31, sustained severe crush injury to his right food when it was pinned against a concrete wall by a 5,000-pound forklift. Injuries resulted in multiple surgeries, near amputation of right lower leg and lifelong chronic pain and limitation. Plaintiffs alleged that stand up rear entry forklift was defectively designed and malfunctioning, causing operators to leave the protected area of the forklift.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Bad Faith Insurance Practice - Loss of Home
Plaintiff's historic home valued at over $1 million caught fire and was a total loss. Plaintiff alleged that the defendant Compass Insurance failed to timely and properly pay for their fire loss, and falsely accused plaintiffs of committing arson.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Obtained Social Security Disability Benefits for:
- A thirty-seven year old Allegheny County man diagnosed with major depressive disorder, personality disorder and schizoaffective disorder. The evidence that we offered established that the claimant was unable to work in any capacity because he lacked the ability to respond to supervision, carry out instruction, make work-related judgments and deal with work stressors. Because we submitted comprehensive medical records to the Judge, no hearing was required and the Judge granted our request for an On the Records review.
- A forty-seven year old, Erie County woman with a combination of mental impairments, including schizophrenic, paranoia and other psychotic disorders. Medical evidence, testimony and records provided at the hearing convinced the Judge to award the claimant disability benefits from her last date of employment, despite the fact that three years had elapsed.
- A forty year old, Allegheny County man suffering from depression, degenerative disc disease and HIV was granted SSI benefits. He had difficulty concentrating and maintaining conversations with others for more than an hour. Claimant was found to be chronically homeless and required the assistance of a case manager to perform daily activities, such as open his mail. We convinced the Judge that his history of drug abuse (which he has discontinued) was not a significant factor in determining his disability.
- A twenty-three year old, Bedford County woman with post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depression with psychotic features. Paranoid fears caused her to avoid being alone and to carry a gun. The Judge found, based on medical evidence and testimony provided by the claimant at the hearing that she was unable to maintain gainful employment.
- An Eric County man with no past work history suffering from a combination of problems, including seizure disorder, hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome, back and mood disorder, headaches, mitral valve stenosis, left eye blindness and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Claimant was awarded benefits despite his ability to perform sedentary work, because the Judge found claimant was unable to hold a job since he could not work at a constant pace. Despite the State agency medical consultant's physical assessment and the psychological consultant's mental assessment, the records we offered into evidence showed the claimant was more disabled than the State examiners' had found.
- A Venango County Army Veteran with chronic pain, obesity, post-traumatic stress disorder, headaches, traumatic brain injury, adhesive capsulitis of the right shoulder, generalized anxiety disorder, lumbar radicular syndrome and disc protrusions. The claimant walked with a cane and had difficulty working under supervision or in close proximity to other. Despite the fact that the Judge found the claimant did not meet the criteria for impairments listed in Appendix 1, Subpart P, Regulations No. 4, evidence that we produced proved the claimant's pain would require him to be off-task more than ten percent of the day and would not be able to maintain gainful employment.
- A Clearfield county man suffering from back pain, knee pain, joint disease, depression, social anxiety, bipolar disorder and personality disorder. The Claimant previously worked as a welder and had a high school level education. Claimant was found not to have a listed impairment, but the medical evidence and testimony produced at the hearing convinced the Judge that the claimant could not maintain employment.
