Palm Beach County Product Liability Case: Office Chair Accident Lawsuit Wins $2.2 Million Verdict
A Port St Lucie man seeking legal advice for an auto accident ended up on a Florida law firm conference room floor -- and winning a multi-million-dollar product liability lawsuit.
The ABA Journal reports that Robert Friedrich went to a North Palm Beach law firm in 2003 to seek legal counsel regarding a car crash incident. Friedrich reportedly suffered personal injury when the office chair he sat in collapsed, and he fell and struck his head. The plaintiff claimed the injuries he suffered when the office chair collapsed resulted in more than $200,000 in medical bills and his losing his employment of 16 years.
A Palm Beach County jury awarded the Florida man and his wife $2,230,569 in the case, apportioning liability for the man's injuries between the furniture store that sold the office chair to the law firm in 1998 (67.5%) and to the law firm that owned the chair (32.5%). The jury also determined that the original auto accident was responsible for 25% of the man's injuries.
The law firm released a statement saying the manufacturer of the chair should have been held completely responsible.
A search on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website (see link below) displays a number of alerts regarding high chairs, lawn and patio chairs, stackable chairs, recliners, and other types of chairs that have been recalled in the past for collapsing hazards. Florida product liability attorneys are familiar with safety laws and regulations that protect consumers from defective products.
Would-Be Client Wins $2.2M Verdict in Law Office Chair-Collapse Case
ABAJournal.com May 7, 2009
Furniture failure verdict nets fortune
WPTV.com May 7, 2009
Related Web Resources
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
