A Defense Verdict in Federal Court
As far as jury trials in Florida go, federal court is one of the most complex jurisdictions to navigate. This is where our unmatched experience and trial capabilities truly shine.
On March 13, 2024, Orlando Partner Art Young and Associate Kendall Griesse obtained a defense verdict in a case tried in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
In this premises liability case, the plaintiff claimed that a misplaced light outside the defendant’s restaurant caused her to trip and fall, sustaining a fractured hip. As a result, she underwent an emergency hip surgery, followed by several weeks of in-patient rehabilitation. She also claimed injuries to her head and low back. In closing, she asked the jury for damages exceeding $700,000.
Although the defense did not dispute the plaintiff’s hip injury and surgery, it did focus on the plaintiff’s own negligent conduct leading to her fall and the fact that no prior injuries had occurred in or around the light.
After less than two hours of deliberating, the jury returned a full defense verdict.