Counsel for the claimant hired a civil engineer that concluded the sight lines at the intersection were approximately 100′ feet less than standard due to the obstructing fence and utility pole. Further investigation revealed the fence height and location to be in violation of town zoning bylaws. Counsel also assembled a collection of accident reports from the intersection over the previous five years showing an unusually high number of crashes.

A claim was brought against the homeowners for negligently maintaining the fence adjacent to the roadway. Counsel advised the homeowners’ insurance company it should secure independent counsel for the homeowners to protect their interests above and beyond the policy limits. Independent counsel was retained. Shortly thereafter, demand was made to pay the full $1.1 million homeowners policy limits in thirty days or less.

Counsel for the insurer recommended arbitration with the $1.1m policy limits serving as the ceiling. Plaintiff’s counsel responded that liability was reasonably clear and suggested arbitration was merely a rejection of the policy limits demand. Less than 30-days later, the insurer offered the total policy limits of $1.1 million dollars.

The claimant suffered serious injuries requiring extensive inpatient treatment, numerous surgeries, and amputation of one of his big toes.

In addition to retaining a construction expert, Combies Hanson, P.C. hired a digital design company to create an interactive animation of the stairs. The animation showed the danger posed by those descending the stairs. The lawsuit settled shortly before trial was scheduled to begin.

Highest offer before trial: $60,000.

Abuse on the part of an assisted living facility alleged to have caused death of Plaintiff’s decedent, a resident at the facility. Plaintiff alleged that decedent was ordered to wear a soft helmet at all times pursuant to his care plan. Defendant failed to ensure decedent wore his helmet and as a result he suffered trauma to his already fragile skull, which shortly thereafter led to his death.

The Plaintiff waived all medical expenses at trial.

A jury returned a verdict with interest in the amount of $704,640.16.

Case Outcome:

• Settlement Amount: $550,000
• Duration: Five days of trial and closing arguments
• Initial Offer: $50,000

Incident Details:
At Combies Hanson P.C., we represented a client who slipped and fell on an icy stairway while exiting his office building in Massachusetts. The icy conditions on the stairway led to the client sustaining back injuries as a result of the fall.

Legal Proceedings:
After the accident, Combies Hanson P.C. filed a legal claim on behalf of our client to seek appropriate compensation for his injuries. The responsible party initially offered a settlement of $50,000. Recognizing the need for fair compensation, our firm proceeded to trial, where over the course of five days of trial and closing arguments, we successfully secured a settlement of $550,000 for our client.

Conclusion:
This case demonstrates Combies Hanson P.C.’s commitment to advocating for our clients’ rights and ensuring they receive just compensation. The significant increase from the initial offer to the final settlement underscores our effective legal representation and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes for those we represent.