Hawkins Parnell Delivers a Defense Verdict in High-Stakes Premises Liability Trial in Georgia
April 1, 2024 (Atlanta, GA) – Hawkins Parnell & Young partner Debra LeVorse secured a complete defense verdict for Dynamic Security Services in the Superior Court of Fulton County. The plaintiff sought $10 million for injuries sustained at a property operated by the Georgia Department of Revenue.
The lawsuit stems from an incident at a DMV branch in Atlanta. The plaintiff alleged that an unsafe doormat caused her to fall and irreversibly shatter her knee, leading to five surgeries and nearly $1 million in uncontested medical expenses. She claimed the onsite security guards at Dynamic Security Services failed to prevent the accident by identifying and mitigating safety hazards from the mats.
During the three-day trial before Judge Jerry Baxter, the trial team led by Debra dismantled the plaintiff's allegations and credibility. The defense undercut the plaintiff's account of the event with video evidence that showed the mat was flat before and during the incident. The trial team also destroyed her credibility when they exposed numerous contradictions the plaintiff made about her medical history in her deposition.
The jury returned a complete defense verdict for Dynamic Security Services after only about an hour of deliberation. Michael Hannan from Hall Booth Smith assisted in the trial.
About Hawkins Parnell & Young
Hawkins Parnell & Young is a national defense litigation firm that has represented many of the largest and most well-known companies in high-risk litigation and business disputes. The 250-strong litigation team works with clients to develop winning defense strategies and, if necessary, try cases to verdict in all 50 states.