Philadelphia County Settlement at Mediation: $260,000.00:

This premises liability matter arose from a slip and fall on a grape near a self-checkout station. Liability was very much in issue as the Defense presented video evidence that reflected another customer had dropped a grape while checking out. Merely sixteen (16) seconds later, Plaintiff stepped on the grape causing her to fall. Thus, Defendant argued such a brief period of time was insufficient to establish any duty on Defendant to remove the grape. Plaintiff argued that even within that brief period the video footage reflected a store employee walk by the grape and then gave a statement that he saw the grape and was on his way back to pick up the grape when Plaintiff fell. Plaintiff was claiming approximately $26,000.00 in unpaid medical bills as well as $80,000.00 to $120,000.00 in future care as a result of a fractured left patella which was surgically treated with an open reduction and internal fixation. Defendant cited Plaintiff’s own medical records which reflected a well-healed fracture and no reasonable expectation that Plaintiff would undergo any future surgery. Plaintiff and her husband were rather sympathetic, although Defendant further pointed to various pre-existing comorbidities involving the same leg. Ultimately, all Parties were firm, fair, and reasonable which led to the consummation of a fair, amicable settlement.