Overview
A 22-year-old man suffered a complete C7 spinal cord injury and became quadriplegic after falling approximately 20 feet from an unsecured second-storey exit of a barn. Claims were brought against multiple parties, and the case settled before trial for more than $1.2 million.
Key Takeaways
- Settlement amount: More than $1.2 million
- Accident type: Fall from the second storey of a barn
- Primary injury: Complete C7 spinal cord injury
- Long-term impact: Complete quadriplegia
- Notable legal issues: The client was intoxicated, the exit was unsecured, and the barn allegedly failed to comply with relevant building codes
- Defendants: Barn owners, bar owners, and the municipality
- Resolution method: Settlement prior to trial
The Case
Our client was 22 years old when a barn owner approached him and his friends while they were drinking at a local bar and asked them to help unload a shipment of hay. After arriving at the barn, our client climbed to the second storey and began baling hay. He was intoxicated, and the barn owner was aware of his condition.
The young man fell through an unsecured exit and landed on his neck and head approximately 20 feet below. He suffered a complete spinal cord injury at the C7 level and was rendered a complete quadriplegic.
Legal action was brought against the owners of the barn, the owners of the bar where the client was allegedly over-served, and the municipality that had issued permits for the barn when it failed to comply with relevant building codes. The case settled before trial, recovering more than $1.2 million in damages for the client.
Why It Matters
This case involved a life-altering spinal cord injury and questions of responsibility involving multiple parties. The claim addressed the circumstances surrounding the unsecured barn exit, the client’s intoxication, alleged over-service at the bar, and the barn’s compliance with relevant building codes.
The matter was resolved before trial with a settlement exceeding $1.2 million in damages.