James M. Treppa and Joseph V. Diestel of Bledsoe, Diestel, Treppa & Crane LLP, in San Francisco, obtained a defense verdict for their client in Alameda County Superior Court, the Honorable Stephen Pulido presiding.
Plaintiff alleged causes of action for general negligence and premises liability against defendant stemming from an accident that occurred on February 15, 2014, at defendant’s home in Oakland. Plaintiff alleged she was injured when she fell moving a desk down the exterior stairs of defendant’s home. Defendant denied liability for plaintiff’s accident, asserting no unsafe condition existed on his property and plaintiff’s own actions of carrying furniture, backwards, down the stairs caused plaintiff’s fall and injuries.
Plaintiff alleged that she suffered a radial head fracture to her right elbow and a distal radial fracture to her left wrist requiring surgery to place an orthopedic plate and screws in plaintiff’s wrist. Plaintiff alleged that future medical treatment was needed for her right elbow and left wrist surgery was needed to replace failed hardware in her wrist after x-rays revealed a broken screw. Plaintiff sought a verdict in the amount of $430,000. The jury deliberated for approximately two and a half hours and returned a defense verdict.