Posted: September 26th, 2013
A woman in New York has been awarded $9.9 million in supermarket accident compensation after developing complex regional pain syndrome due to being hit by a shopping trolley.
New York residents Rose Nudelman and her husband had just finished shopping at their local Costco Supermarket in Brooklyn, when the couple took their loaded supermarket shopping trolley onto the ascending escalator in the supermarket complex.
The tread on the escalator had been designed in such a way so that the wheels of the supermarket trolleys would catch on the tread and prevent them from rolling down the slope. However, while Rose and her husband were on the escalator, the trolley wheels slipped from the tread and the trolley started to roll down the escalator, catching Rose on the wrist.
Although it did not appear at the time that the fifty-one year old designer had sustained any significant injury, Rose and her husband reported the incident to the supermarket management. However, within two weeks of the incident happening, Rose began to experience issues with walking.
Her condition deteriorated so quickly that she was only capable of hobbling around her home with the aid of a walking stick and, after several tests at her doctors, Rose was diagnosed with the neurological injury “Complex Regional Pain Syndrome”.
Rose´s injury was attributed to the knock on the wrist she received at the supermarket and, after seeking legal advice, Rose made a claim for compensation for a supermarket accident against Costco Supermarket.
The supermarket rejected her claim and alleged that she had exaggerated the level of her injury to justify claiming compensation; however Rose´s solicitor believed that his client had a viable case, and pursued her claim by issuing court proceedings.
Costco continued to deny any liability for Rose´s injury, and refused to settle the supermarket accident compensation claim out of court. However, when the case was heard in New York, the jury found in favour of Rose and awarded her $9.9 million in damages.
Costco public liability insurers have said that they will appeal both the verdict and the size of the compensation award but, after hearing about a possible appeal, Rose´s solicitor commented that no amount of supermarket accident compensation would convince anybody he knew to trade places with his client.
Categories: Shop Accident Compensation
