Paul V. Samoni of Law Offices of John A. Biard and Jordan E. Scott, of Bledsoe, Diestel, Treppa & Crane LLP, in San Francisco, obtained a defense verdict for their clients in Alameda County Superior Court, the Honorable Brad Seligman presiding.
Plaintiff alleged he tripped and fell in a bed of river rocks after running away from a skunk he encountered while Plaintiff was taking out his trash at night in the condominium complex where he lived. Plaintiff further alleged that Mr. Samoni and Ms. Scott’s clients, the condominium complex’s HOA and property management company, were responsible for his trip and fall due to inadequate lighting near the trash enclosure and inadequate funding for landscaping.
As a result of his trip and fall, Plaintiff claimed he sustained a serious injury to his right elbow, requiring multiple surgeries and preventing him from working for more than six years. Plaintiff did not accept the section 998 offers issued by the HOA and management company prior to trial.
After hearing evidence for nearly two weeks, the jury rejected Plaintiff’s claims and alleged damages and returned a unanimous defense verdict for both defendants.