Jury Returns Defense Verdict and Court Grants Dismissal for Defendants in Personal Injury Case

May 22, 2012

Gregory A. Sargenti successfully represented defendants Hands Together and the National Pediatric Support Services in an Orange County Superior Court personal injury case.

Plaintiff Rocio Marquez sued the two defendants following an August 12, 2008 accident that occurred at a preschool on property operated by National Pediatric Support Services under its contract with Hands Together. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained significant orthopedic injuries to her lower back and left knee as a result of a negligently cleaned spill of water. The plaintiff submitted to over a year of treatment and claimed a future surgery was required to repair her injured left knee. The defendants claimed Rocio Marquez was, or should have been, aware of the open and obvious condition and are therefore not legally liable for her claimed injuries.

On the first day of trial, the court granted an Order of Dismissal filed by the defense on behalf of Hands Together. After three days in trial, the jury retired to deliberate for under three hours before returning a defense verdict finding that National Pediatric Support Services' conduct was not a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's claimed injuries.