Plaintiff sued her landlord for her injuries which occurred on September 15, 2011, after she fell while taking a shower. She claimed the shower knob which controlled the hot water had been loose for some time. She had reported the loose and leaky knob to management, putting them on notice, but no action was taken. During this shower, she turned the hot water knob and it came off completely, sending a gush of hot water at Plaintiff causing her to fall backward.
Defendant claimed no knowledge of a defect which would have made Plaintiff’s injury foreseeable. However, the superintendent regularly carried extra shower knob spindles, which led a jury to find the management liable.
Plaintiff broke a bone in her left wrist, which was treated with two surgeries. The surgeries resulted in nerve damage and may need further surgery to relieve nerve impingement. After an hour and a half the jury found the landlord liable and that damages totaled $1,900,000, including:
- $75,000 for past medical cost;
- $750,000 for future medical cost;
- $275,000 for past pain and suffering; and
- $800,000 for future pain and suffering.
