Wal-Mart loses $1M local slip-and-fall case

[thelakelander]

JACKSONVILLE — A local attorney has won a $1 million judgment in a slip-and-fall case against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Law experts say the case is unusual in that the plaintiff beat the retailing giant in court, and for the size of the jury award.

The case involves Valerie Dantzler, who filed suit against the mega-retailer in July 2010 in Duval County Circuit Court for damages and negligence regarding a fall she had in 2005 at a Northside Jacksonville Walmart Super Center. The jury on Jan. 12 agreed with Dantzler and her attorney, Mitch Stone, finding that Wal-Mart carried 80 percent of the blame in the suit and Dantzler carried 20 percent.

As a result, Dantzler was awarded $800,000 of the total judgment, which includes $195,000 for past and future medical expenses, $220,000 in past and future lost wages and $585,000 in past and future damages for pain and suffering.
"I think the jury just realized it was just wrong," Stone said of the suit's outcome.

Wal-Mart spokesman Greg Rossiter said the Bentonville, Ark.-based company is reviewing its options in the case.

Full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/print-edition/2012/01/27/wal-mart-loses-1m-local-slip-and-fall.html