San Diego, CA – In a recent verdict, a California state court jury awarded $1.25 million to nine plaintiffs who were injured when a mezzanine platform collapsed at a warehouse during a children’s party. The incident, which occurred in 2017, has been subjected to legal scrutiny, culminating in a trial that was thoroughly recorded by Courtroom View Network.
The warehouse, owned by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), was found partially liable by the jury. However, the primary fault, accounting for 85 percent of the liability, was assigned to two tenants who had previously settled out of court: San Diego Sports Entertainment and a parkour gym known as Vault PK. As a result, the amount directly collectible from MTS was reduced to $187,500.
Timothy Scott, the attorney representing the injured parties from McKenzie Scott PC, revealed post-trial that previous settlements with the tenants amounted to over $4 million in total compensation for the victims. This figure underscores the severity of the incident and the legal recourse sought by those affected.
According to testimonies, the collapse happened swiftly as guests moved to the mezzanine level for pizza, catching everyone by surprise and leading to multiple injuries. Allegations arose that MTS had failed to ensure proper inspections and permitting processes for the mezzanine addition. Despite the property originally serving as storage for railroad equipment, it was repurposed by MTS as a rental space—a decision that came under legal fire after the incident.
Scott emphasized the broader implications of the verdict post-trial, suggesting that it serves as a poignant reminder to public landlords about their indispensable role in upholding safety codes and regulations. He conveyed a strong message that compliance with property safety measures is non-negotiable, particularly when public safety is at stake.
The case has seen its complexity, with MTS initially offering a substantial settlement to the most severely injured plaintiff which was later withdrawn, leading to a separate trial path for other plaintiffs. This maneuver highlighted contentious settlement negotiations that ultimately shaped the course of litigation.
Kimberly Oberrecht of Horton Oberrecht & Kirkpatrick represented MTS, presenting defense arguments that placed considerable blame on the tenants for the structural changes leading to the collapse. Despite these efforts, an earlier ruling dismissing MTS was overturned on appeal, reinstating their responsibility in the new trial.
Additionally, this trial revisits the legal discourse from a 2022 jury trial, adding depth to the ongoing judicial consideration of landlord liabilities in cases where third-party modifications contribute to property hazards.
Legal representation for the plaintiffs also included Nicolas Jimenez and paralegal Nicole Delaney alongside Scott, indicating the range of legal expertise marshaled for the case.
This trial, officially titled Veronica Doyle, et al. v. San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, continues to have significant implications for property rental practices, particularly concerning the duties of landlords to prevent hazardous conditions, even when the space is operated by third parties.
The series of events leading to and following this verdict paints a detailed picture of the intersection between legal accountability, commercial property use, and public safety, making this case a notable examination of civil liability in accident scenarios.
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