On July 11, 2019, after a 4-day Jury Trial in Bucks County Pa before the Honorable Robert J. Mellon, an 8-person jury returned a verdict of $400,000 in favor of our client versus Milford Township.
There was a $20,000 offer pre-trial. Anthony J. Baratta, Esq. of Baratta, Russell & Baratta (BRB) tried the case. Bruce Hess of Howland, Hess, Guinan, Torpey, Cassidy & O’Connell, sat second chair.
In 2014, our client, was walking down the exterior steps of a cabin Milford Township had purchased in order to demolish it. It was vacant. A handrail collapsed and she fell. She injured her left knee. Because our client said her function was greatly diminished and her pain was greatly increased following the fall, her doctor sent her for evaluation by orthopedists. She saw 4 orthopedists, all of whom said she needed a knee replacement.
The injury alleged at trial was an aggravation of pre-existing degenerative joint disease necessitating knee replacement. Our client’s internal medicine and rheumatology expert testified that although she may have needed a knee replacement in any event in the future, she may have been able to avoid it and the fall created a necessity that it be immediately replaced.
The jury deliberated for two hours and returned a verdict in amount of $300,000 for our client and $100,000 for her husband’s loss of consortium claim.
If you have any questions regarding this case please contact Anthony J. Baratta directly at 215.914.2222 or tony@barattarussell.com
