Garan Lucow Miller P.C. is pleased to share that our attorney Tara L. Velting successfully defended her client, a restaurant, in a high-exposure premises liability trial in Grand Rapids.
The plaintiff, a 65-year-old woman and avid runner, alleged she slipped and fell near the restaurant’s kitchen area, sustaining a fractured patella and torn meniscus that ultimately required surgery. She presented herself as a sympathetic figure to the jury, even bringing her 5K race shirts and medals to highlight her active lifestyle. She claimed the restaurant failed to keep the floors free of grease and/or snow/water, failed to take appropriate precautions, and should have had a floor mat in the area.
At trial, the plaintiff’s counsel attempted to cast our client as indifferent, framing the defense as a “deny, deflect, discredit” strategy. Despite evidentiary challenges, Tara emphasized the absence of negligence and focused the jury on the critical threshold question: did our client do anything wrong?
Tara called multiple employee witnesses, including the owner, a small business leader and former state representative in Grand Rapids, to demonstrate the company’s commitment to safety and community. The defense witnesses testified that no substance or condition was observed on the floor that could have caused the fall. Tara further showed that the care and practices of the restaurant met reasonable standards under the circumstances, including the snowy weather conditions.
In the end, the jury was persuaded. Despite the plaintiff’s request for more than $440,000 in damages, the jury returned a verdict of no negligence and awarded zero damages.