Sean J. Verma v. Harpreet Chaudhary, Neha Chaudhary, Kulwant Sandhu, Kewal Singh, and Does 1-100, et al.
- Resolution Date:
- May 6, 2011
- Practice Areas:
- Premises Liability, Products Liability
- Synopsis:
- Facts and Allegations:
On May 16, 2006, 42-year-old Sean Verma, a car wash cashier, was working at the Grand Prix Car Wash and Detail in El Sobrante, California. Due to the negligence of several entities involved in the design and construction of the car wash, an oversized pickup truck failed to stop at the end of the car wash conveyor, and rolled downhill toward waiting customers. Verma attempted to stop the pickup but was crushed between it and a concrete planter. - Verma sued the property owners for premises liability because the car wash exit area was too short for its intended use and it was followed by a downhill slope into the customer waiting area, which was a dangerous condition for which the owners had failed to inspect, warn or guard against.
- Verma sued the car wash manufacturer for products liability for its failure to instruct and warn end users that having an exit area shorter than 20’ would not allow sufficient distance for vehicles exiting the car wash to roll to a stop.
- Verma sued the specialty installer, the civil engineer and several entities involved in the design and construction of the car wash on negligence theories because the car wash, as built, failed to include the manufacture recommended 20 feet of level pavement at the car wash exit; and because the design included a downhill slope into the customer waiting area, which was hidden danger when combined with the short level section. Plaintiffs contended the 20Õ foot level apron was intended by the manufacturer as a safety feature to allow vehicles enough room to roll to a stop and that it was negligent to fail to include it in the overall site design.
- Verma defeated summary judgment on the construction statute of limitation because the defect was a combination of factors that was latent, or hidden, to the average consumer.
- Injuries/Damage:
Verma sustained severe crush injuries to his trachea, cervical spine and shoulder. He sustained vocal cord paralysis, which caused him increasing breathing difficulties. Cervical fractures at C5-6 required immediate fusion surgery. He also suffered shoulder injuries. Verma contended he would not be able to return to work due to his orthopedic injuries and breathing difficulties caused by vocal cord paralysis. - The case settled before trial for $3.8 million. Plaintiff’s counsel coordinated all efforts with the worker’s compensation case, which settled for an additional $767,000.000 and included lifetime future medical care.
- Attorneys:
-
Eustace de Saint Phalle
Elinor Leary
- Resolution:
- $3,800,000.00
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