$10.6 Million Award in Faulty Elevator Case

The Superior Court of New Jersey recently affirmed a $10.6 million jury award for a master carpenter permanently limited by spinal injuries suffered when a service elevator he occupied suddenly dropped two floors.

Accident Details

The August 19, 2005 accident happened at Headquarters Plaza in Morristown, New Jersey when the man was 47 years old. He was leaving the building via a service elevator at the end of the work day when the elevator malfunctioned. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with a number of herniated discs in his back as well as a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The man and his wife filed a lawsuit against Schindler Elevator alleging that the company failed to properly maintain the elevator.

Jury Awards in Two Different Trials

In 2012, a jury found for the injured man and awarded him $2.8 million. The jury also awarded his wife $950,000. However, a New Jersey appellate court overturned the verdict the following year when it ordered a new trial.

The second trial commenced in 2014. A jury awarded the man $7.75 million, a sum that had grown to $10.6 million due to accrued interest. Schindler Elevator then filed a motion for a new trial, claiming the awarded damages were excessive.

Elevator Company’s Motion Denied

The court denied the company’s motion for a new trial in a 25-page decision. It referred to the plaintiff’s permanent injuries, inability to perform carpentry work, depression, PTSD, and emotional suffering in rendering its decision. It also analysed expert testimony that the injured man would never regain normal physical functioning.

Contact a Products Liability Attorney Today

Although every case is unique, equipment manufacturers and maintenance providers may be held liable for injuries sustained under certain circumstances. In the aftermath of an accident, legal knowledge is often helpful in determining which party or parties are responsible.

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a faulty product, contact the Indianapolis Products Liability Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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