$286,000 Verdict
A woman who was injured when a piece of office equipment fell on her foot has won $286,000 in her St. Louis City lawsuit against a copier company.
A service technician from Ikon Office Solutions was in the Washington University Business School to work on a copy machine. He removed a 16-pound stapler unit and leaned it against a corner of the copier.
Patricia Hale was an employee of the business school. As she was standing in the doorway of the copy room, she reached for a piece of paper on a nearby printer. The stapler unit fell onto her right foot and caused a severe crush injury.
Hale sued Ikon for her injuries. After trial, the jury returned a verdict for $286,000.
Type of Action: Negligence
Type of Injuries: Crush injury to sural nerve of right foot with complications including blood clot and infection
Court/Case No./Date: St. Louis City Circuit Court/032-907/Feb. 18, 2005
Caption: Hale v. Tang, et al.
Judge, Jury or ADR: Jury
Name of Judge: Mark Neill
Special Damages: $42,000 past medical expense, $12,500 past lost wages
Last Offer: $200,000
Last Demand: $275,000
Verdict or Settlement: $286,000 verdict
Allocation of Fault: 100 percent to defendant
Attorneys for Plaintiff: Stephen M. Glassman, St. Louis
Insurance Company: St. Paul/Travelers
Plaintiff's Experts: James Grueninger, St. Louis (copier expert); Dr. Charles Nathan, St. Louis (plastic surgeon); Dr. Stephen Schmidt, St. Louis (pain management); Dr. John Weltmer, St. Louis (orthopedist); Dr. Robert Zink, St. Louis (family practice)
Defendant's Experts: Dr. Russell Cantrell, St. Louis (physiatrist); Michael Mattera, St. Louis (copier expert)
April 4, 2005
