A Tulare County jury has returned a highly favorable verdict for a major national grocery chain, awarding $100,000 in damages, an amount suggested by defense counsel, and far below the $1.6 million requested by plaintiff. The defense team was led by Partner David Benton, who guided the case through trial and emphasized that the disputed medical causation did not support the plaintiff's claimed cervical fusion surgery and extensive damages.
Although the defense stipulated to liability before trial, the team mounted a targeted and effective challenge to causation as well as the extent of the alleged injuries. Before trial, the grocery chain served a statutory offer of $115,000, further underscoring the jury's alignment with the defense evaluation.
"This verdict reflects the jury's careful consideration of the actual medical evidence," said Benton. "Our goal was to present a clear, fact-driven case that honored the process while ensuring our client was not held responsible for damages unsupported by the record. The jury did exactly that."
The jury's precise award of the $100,000 figure, urged by Benton in closing, reinforces the effectiveness of the defense strategy and demonstrates the continued importance of scrutinizing claimed surgical causation in premises liability cases.
"Our team is proud of this result," added Associate Nitya Tolani who assisted on the case. "It shows how strategic trial evaluation and client collaboration work together. This decision sends a strong message about the value of defending causation cases on the evidence."
This outcome marks a significant win for the grocery chain and WSHB, reaffirming its commitment to delivering exceptional courtroom results in high-exposure liability cases.
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