Construction
Injury
Claims arising from
injuries sustained as a result working and or being in a
construction site or zone.
If
you are a victim of a Serious Construction
Site Injury to yourself or
a loved one you should know you have certain legal rights and must be very
selective of the Lawyer or Law Firm you chose to represent you. Our
firm has had experience in the personal injury law field for the last 30 years. We Specialize in the following personal injury type claims.
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SUMMARY: Dangerous Condition - Policeman on
Horse Falls Falls Over Retaining Wall; Male, 40, fractured wrist and foot,
RSD
Verdict: $2,008,500
County: Los
Angeles
State: CA
O'Brien's Verdictum Juris 99-27-03
Defense Attorneys: for Ehretz: Michael N.
Schonbuch (Daniels, Baratta & Fine), Los Angeles (310) 556-7900 for
Hollywood: Edor Anderson (Koester & Walker), Glendale (818) 545-3700.
Trial Judge: Henry W. Shatford L.A. Central
7/2/99
Trial Time: 7 Days Deliberation Time: 2 1/2
Days
Insurance Co: Crusader for Ehretz; Nationwide
for Hollywood
Case: Ronnie Jones v. Hollywood Community
Housing Corporation and John Kenneth Ehretz
Facts: 12/6/96: Plaintiff, a
40-year-old Los Angeles Police Department Mounted Unit officer, and his
partner were riding their horses, chasing a narcotics suspect through the
streets of Hollywood. The suspect turned up a driveway at 1811 North
Wilcox owned by Defendant Ehretz. The officers pursued on horseback until
the lead horse became spooked and stopped. The suspect fled. Plaintiff's
partner's horse spun and knocked into Plaintiff's horse, causing it to
back into an 18" retaining wall. Plaintiff and his horse were pushed
by his partner's horse over the 18" retaining wall. They fell seven
feet and landed in the yard of a property owned by Defendant Hollywood
Community Housing Corporation.
Injuries: Plaintiff's doctors
testified that he suffered multiple fractures to the left wrist and left
foot, complicated by reflex sympathetic disorder of the left hand,
requiring four surgeries. Residuals: Limp, partial loss of use of left
hand, and need for future surgery.
Medical Costs: $225,000 past,
$80,000 future.
Loss of Earnings: $175,000
past, $900,000 future.
Contentions: Plaintiff claimed
that the seven-foot drop between the properties constituted an
unreasonably dangerous condition. Both properties violated the building
code because they had no fence or guardrail to block the seven-foot.
Defendants argued that property owners in Los Angeles County are not
required to "horse-proof" their property. They owed no duty to
Plaintiff in this case because the incident was not reasonably
foreseeable.
Settlement Negotiations: Offer:
$25,000 CCP 998 according to Plaintiff, increased to $50,000 from Ehretz
according to Defendant; $250,000 CCP 998 from Hollywood Community Housing
Corporation.
Demand: $1,000,000 CCP 998
from each Defendant.
Verdict: $2,007,500 gross
total award, with the jury apportioning liability 55% to Hollywood
Community Housing Corporation, 35% to Ehretz, and 10% to all others.
$1,007,500 economic damages; $1,000,000 non-economic damages
Jury Poll: 10-2
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