Verdicts and Settlements

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At Rooney Philly Lawyer, we understand the challenges that individuals and families face when dealing with personal injuries caused by accidents. Our experienced team of attorneys is dedicated to providing expert legal representation to the Philadelphia community, ensuring that victims receive the compensation they deserve.

Plaintiff Awarded $1.25 Million Verdict in Fractured Back Case Following Stairwell Fall

Philadelphia, PA — We are proud to announce a recent victory for justice in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. In the case of Paul Nye v. Joshua Angotti, Kara Angotti, Shane Alikakos v. XPO Logistics and Tiger Trans Inc., plaintiff Paul Nye was awarded a significant verdict of $1.25 million. This case revolves around a distressing incident where Mr. Nye sustained a fractured back after a fall from a stairwell. The case concluded on May 13, 2022, under the guidance of Judge Angelo Foglietta.

The unfortunate event occurred on August 31, 2018, when Mr. Nye, a respected 62-year-old business owner, suffered a serious back fracture after falling from the third floor to the second floor of a Philadelphia apartment building on 13th Street. The property was owned by Joshua Angotti and Kara Angotti, and contractor Shane Alikakos was overseeing renovations on the second and third floors. The incident coincided with a delivery by Tiger Trans Inc., which was transporting kitchen materials to the third floor.

Expert Legal Representation and Advocacy

Establishing Registries and Training: Pennsylvania law mandates that law enforcement agencies be ready to enforce PFA orders, including making arrests for violations. Section 6105 of the Protection from Abuse Act directs the Pennsylvania State Police to maintain a statewide registry of PFA orders, facilitating local law enforcement’s access to orders issued in different counties. Local police departments must then train their officers to enforce PFA orders in line with the established policies. Law enforcement agencies are poised to enforce PFA orders throughout Pennsylvania.

Our esteemed team, led by attorneys John F. Rooney V. of Rooney Philly Lawyer and Christopher J. Heavens of Heavens Law, diligently represented Mr. Nye. The case revolved around allegations of negligence on the part of property owners and the contractor. Mr. Nye asserted that the property owners failed to address hazardous conditions and neglected to provide proper warnings. Moreover, he claimed that Alikakos was negligent in maintaining a secure working environment and appropriately securing the open stairwell hole.

The case further involved third-party defendants Tiger Trans Inc. and XPO Logistics, with XPO Logistics being dismissed from the lawsuit prior to trial.

Pursuit of Justice and Verdict

Expert testimony revealed that Alikakos had violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations by failing to properly barricade the open stairwell hole, as required. Despite contrary claims, evidence presented by Mr. Nye and the Tiger Trans worker contradicted these assertions.

After careful deliberation, the jury found Alikakos 80 percent liable and the Angottis 20 percent liable for the incident. While Mr. Nye was deemed negligent, his negligence was not found to be the direct cause of his injury. Notably, Tiger Trans was absolved of negligence. Consequently, Paul Nye was awarded $1.25 million in damages.

Enforcing PFA Orders through Law Enforcement

Establishing Registries and Training: Pennsylvania law mandates that law enforcement agencies be ready to enforce PFA orders, including making arrests for violations. Section 6105 of the Protection from Abuse Act directs the Pennsylvania State Police to maintain a statewide registry of PFA orders, facilitating local law enforcement’s access to orders issued in different counties. Local police departments must then train their officers to enforce PFA orders in line with the established policies. Law enforcement agencies are poised to enforce PFA orders throughout Pennsylvania.

Notification and Reporting: In case of an arrest made for violating a PFA order, the Act’s Section 6105 requires the arresting officer to inform the plaintiff about the violation. Incident reports related to PFA order violations must be recorded in a national reporting database. Attempting to evade detection by crossing state lines doesn’t necessarily offer protection; violations and reports in one state can lead to the exposure of similar incidents in other states. If you find yourself facing an overly broad PFA order that might inadvertently lead to a violation due to its unfair scope, consider engaging the services of Rooney Philly Lawyer, a Pennsylvania criminal-defense attorney, who can challenge or seek modifications to the PFA order on your behalf.

Comprehensive Compensation for the Future

The awarded compensation encompasses various aspects of Mr. Nye’s suffering, including $350,000 for past and future pain and suffering, $400,000 for past and future loss of enjoyment of life, $500,000 for future medical expenses, culminating in a total award of $1.25 million.

Our Commitment to Advocacy and Legal Excellence

This landmark case was resolved after a comprehensive five-day trial, during which expert witnesses presented evidence from both the plaintiff and the defendants. The verdict was reached without any financial contribution from defendant insurers. Remarkably, Mr. Nye demonstrated his commitment to justice by waiving delay damages in exchange for the defendants’ acceptance of the jury’s allocation of fault.

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