Patient struck by falling shelf in chiropractor’s office – $1,000,000 Settlement

Plaintiff was lying on a treatment table in a chiropractor’s office when a shelf installed by the defendant chiropractor fell from the wall and struck the plaintiff’s head and neck.

There was only $1,000,000 in coverage. Plaintiff’s counsel refused to mediate or negotiate for anything less than the full coverage.

[14-T-197]

Type of action: Personal injury – premises liability
Injuries alleged: Mild traumatic brain injury, balance disorder, TMJ dysfunction, cervical strain
Name of case: Gleason v. Norfolk Chiropractic Center PC
Court: Norfolk Circuit Court
Case no.: CL13-4076
Date resolved: May 14, 2014
Special damages: $44,219.85 in medical bills; $45,680 in lost wages
Verdict or settlement: Settlement
Amount: $1,000,000
Attorneys for plaintiff: Stephen M. Smith, Hampton; Jeffrey F. Brooke, Virginia Beach; Edward E. Scher, Richmond
Attorneys for defendants: Benjamin T. Owings II, Richmond; David L. Littel, Norfolk
Plaintiff’s experts: Gregory O’Shanick, M.D., neuropsychology, Richmond; Harvey Jacobs, Ph.D., life care planning, Richmond; The Structures Group Inc., structural engineering, Williamsburg; Charles DeMark, MS, CRC, vocational rehabilitation, Portsmouth; Jeffrey Kreutzer, Ph.D., neuropsychology, Richmond; Jack Cherin, DMD, TMJ dysfunction, Virginia Beach; Daniel Cohen, M.D., neurology, Norfolk; Barry Strasnick, M.D., balance disorders, Norfolk
Defendants’ experts: Scott Sautter, Ph.D., neuropsychology, Virginia Beach; Wayne Shaia, M.D., balance disorders, Richmond; James Levenson, M.D., psychiatry, Richmond
Insurance carrier: Hanover Insurance