Million

Long Island Man Wins $1.9 Million Verdict After BMW’s “Soft Close” Door Severs His Thumb

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Brooklyn, NY — A Long Island resident, after suffering a severe injury from his luxury vehicle, was awarded $1.9 million in damages by a federal court jury. The incident, which took place in 2016, involved a BMW’s motorized “soft close” door that severed part of the man’s thumb. Godwin Boateng, a 68-year-old software engineer from Valley Stream, expressed relief and satisfaction with the court’s decision nearly seven years after the accident that dramatically altered his lifestyle. Boateng’s attorney, Avi Cohen, recounted that they rejected a significantly lower settlement offer from BMW just weeks before the … Read more

Philadelphia Jury Awards $68.5 Million in Landmark Case Against Construction Firm for Worker’s Fatal Fall

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Philadelphia, PA — A Philadelphia jury has awarded $68.5 million in damages to the family of a construction worker who died after a fall at a luxury townhouse development site in the city’s Fitler Square area. The worker, identified as 38-year-old Siarhei Marhunou, succumbed to injuries sustained from a fall from an unsecured fifth-floor balcony in December 2021. The substantial verdict came after a contentious trial that cast a spotlight on what attorneys described as significant safety oversights by OCF Construction LLC, the general contractor helmed by developer Ori Feibush. Marhunou’s family, represented by lawyers … Read more

Uber and Lyft Agree to $175 Million Settlement with Massachusetts, Commit to Hourly Minimum Pay and Employee Benefits for Drivers

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BOSTON — Uber Technologies and Lyft have settled a lawsuit with the Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, agreeing on Thursday to upgrade their drivers’ compensation and benefits in a significant shift away from their traditional business models. The companies will now implement a $32.50 hourly minimum wage for their Massachusetts drivers and will pay a combined $175 million to resolve claims they had misclassified workers as independent contractors. Under the terms of this landmark agreement, the rideshare giants will also introduce new benefits for drivers including paid sick leave, accident insurance, and healthcare stipends. … Read more

Ultramarathon Runner Wins $13 Million in Landmark Sidewalk Safety Lawsuit After Career-Ending Injury

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SEATTLE — An ultramarathon athlete has been awarded $13.1 million in damages after suing over an injury she sustained in 2021 due to a poorly maintained sidewalk in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Lesley Mettler Auld, 53, experienced a fall that profoundly impacted her physical abilities and effectively ended her running career, her attorneys reported. The decision, delivered by a King County jury, assigns joint financial responsibility to both the city of Seattle and the owners of the nearby apartment building. According to legal documents, the sidewalk where Mettler Auld fell had been waterlogged and prone … Read more