Las Vegas, NV – A woman who suffered severe leg injuries from a slip on a spilled drink at a Las Vegas casino was awarded $15 million by a Nevada state court jury, according to courtroom recordings by Courtroom View Network. The plaintiff, Debbie Fenton, developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following her fall at a private event at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in 2021.
The incident led Fenton to seek compensation, citing ongoing severe pain and medical complications linked to the incident. Lawyers argued that the rapid occurrence of the accident after the drink was spilled left insufficient time for intervention by the casino staff. Despite this, the jury, on April 7, allocated approximately $1 million for past and future medical expenses and about $14 million for pain and emotional distress.
The deliberations concluded relatively quickly, with the jury arriving at a unanimous verdict in just an hour and 15 minutes, indicating a clear stance on the liability aspects of the case. Attorney Patrick Kang, representing Fenton, had originally sought damages close to $37 million during his closing argument. He pointed out post-trial that even though the award was less than sought, it exceeded a pre-trial settlement proposal of $12 million, which the defense had rejected, offering only $2.75 million immediately before the trial commenced.
Several key elements were pivotal during the trial, such as surveillance footage showing the hotel security’s reaction to the glass dropping. Testimony from a corporate representative, who insisted no mistake had been made in the handling of the event, was also central to establishing liability.
Patrick Kang from Ace Law Group, along with attorney Christian Smith, represented Fenton, arguing that her injuries were significant and life-altering, presenting considerable challenges in a case typically prone to public and juridical skepticism towards slip-and-fall incidents.
On the defense were attorneys from Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP and Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, who contended that the responsibility for maintaining the event space rested with the organization that leased it.
The trial was presided over by Judge Eric Johnson and spanned four days. The case title is Deborah Fenton v. Nevada Property 1 LLC, et al, and it was held in Clark County District Court under case number A-23-869317-C.
This coverage is based on a comprehensive review of court documents and testimonies. Note that the information presented is generated by OpenAI and while aimed at accuracy, discrepancies or inaccuracies in people, facts, or circumstances may exist. Any issues with the article can be addressed by emailing [email protected] for corrections, retractions, or removal requests.