Successful Impeachment Leads To Quick Defense Verdict

Art Davison recently won a defense verdict for a local franchisee of an internationally known restaurant chain that had been sued in Richmond County Superior Court. A customer fell in the restaurant, sustaining a fractured kneecap requiring surgery. She and her husband sued the restaurant, claiming her fall was caused by a foreign substance on the floor. They were represented by two well-respected and capable plaintiff attorneys, who argued for substantial damages including medical expenses and lost wages exceeding $50,000.

After a two day trial in August 2012, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the restaurant. In addition to showing the extensive steps taken by the restaurant to safely maintain its floors, the defense team raised questions about the plaintiff’s credibility. In particular, they showed the plaintiff gave contradictory testimony about the warning signs the restaurant had placed in its store to advise customers to be careful walking. At first, the plaintiff denied such signs were in place, but she was later forced to admit their presence because a video showed they were there. In fact, the video showed the plaintiff walking by one of the yellow warning signs twice before she fell. The jury took a mere twenty one minutes to return its verdict.

Art served as lead counsel for the defendant, and was assisted by paralegal Lori Mussman at trial.