Jury Awards $13 Million to Woman Seriously Injured in Plummeting Elevator Accident

Sept. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact
Brad Edwards, Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, P.L.
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Jury Awards $13 Million to Woman Seriously Injured in Plummeting Elevator Accident

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Attorney Brad Edwards of Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, obtained a 13 million dollar jury verdict for a woman who sustained permanent injuries, including PTSD and RSD/CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) as a result of an elevator accident.

Thirteen years ago, on May 2, 1999, 41-year-old Janice Beasley, an employee of Modis, was a passenger on an elevator that malfunctioned in her office building. The elevator experienced a series of falls between floor 23 and the basement. Schindler Elevator Corporation was not responsible for injuries Mrs. Beasley may have sustained between floors 23 and floor 8, as the Defendant did not cause the malfunction.  However, the Schindler mechanic responded to the malfunction and rather than remove Mrs. Beasley, he sent her down to the basement in a second series of falls.  

Attorney Brad Edwards stated that, “The Schindler Elevator Corporation negligence in responding to the elevator malfunction, caused physical and psychological injuries to Janice Beasley. While the Schindler Elevator Corporation did not cause the initial elevator malfunction, there is no doubt that Schindler grossly mishandled the response to the malfunction and failed to consider Mrs. Beasley’s safety as a priority. To make matters worse, Schindler employed every legal defense available, and the company proved it would go to great lengths to avoid responsibility for the life-changing harm it caused to Janice.”

As a result of the entire elevator event, Janice Beasley sustained significant bruising, as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Janice Beasley’s bruises developed into RSD/CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), and she continued to experience extreme psychological injuries, including chronic depression, PTSD and Conversion Disorder. Because of the various physical and psychological injuries, she suffered extreme pain, partial paralysis or her left leg, pseudo seizures, and was wheelchair bound for many years.

“When I first examined this case a few months back and learned that this case was 13 years old, I thought immediately that this is not fair treatment of anybody and not the way our system is designed to work,” added Edwards. “There is no reason for justice to be delayed for that long. Then I went to Jacksonville and spent time getting to know Mrs. Beasley and knew that she deserved for a jury of her peers to bring closure to this nightmare for her. I believed in her, and in her cause, and that she had been wronged in 1999 and for many years since. Our firm has a strong faith in our jury system, and this jury confirmed all of my beliefs.”  

Attorney Edwards took over the case about two months prior to it going to trial to help his client seek justice. He took the case on because the case had been in suit since 2002.

Meticulous trial preparation, and extensive factual and legal research, are integral to Farmer Jaffe Weissing’s law practice and to their success in jury trials. Every case they pursue receives skillful, experienced representation in the courtroom, which is firmly grounded in their desire to take each case personally and fight to restore fairness for those who have been wronged. The firm’s trial team attacks each project and case with a true belief that no case is too complicated or too difficult, and that they will do whatever it takes to find a way to simplify the issues of the case to enable juries to return fair and just verdicts.

A Duval County jury returned a verdict of $13,188,000.00 against Schindler Elevator Company and Highwoods Properties, Inc., following a 2-week trial in Jacksonville.

Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards & Lehrman, P.L., a Fort Lauderdale Litigation firm, focuses on Consumer Class Actions, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Whistleblower Suits (qui tam). Our firm has built a reputation as the go-to trial firm for complex and difficult cases. Farmer Jaffe Weissing is often sought out by injured parties and by attorneys seeking experienced and results oriented trial counsel. The firm is headquartered at 425 N. Andrews Avenue, Suite 2 and may be reached at (800) 400-1098 or (954) 524-2820. Additional information about Brad Edwards or Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards & Lehrman, P.L. may be obtained from the firm’s website at http://www.pathtojustice.com or connect with Brad on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/bradjedwards.