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Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular)
Premises Liability
Dangerous Condition

Wilda Spalding v. The Vons Companies, Inc., et al.

Published: Jun. 3, 1995 | Result Date: May 16, 1995 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: SC001675 –  $0

Judge

Robert T. Altman

Court

L.A. Superior Santa Monica


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Catherine Marie Barrad


Defendant

Gregory C. Pyfrom


Experts

Plaintiff

Glenn Henry Ham-Rosebrock
(technical)

Defendant

Mark Klaybor
(technical)

Facts

On July 11, 1989, Plaintiff Wilda Spalding was a 43-year-old human rights delegate to the United Nations and well-known international human rights advocate for the disabled. She was a customer exiting the Defendant Vons store located at Sunset Boulevard on Pacific Coast Highway. Plaintiff alleged that a faulty Stanley Magic door struck and pinned the Plaintiff against the door jamb, crushing her. She further alleged that a passerby pulled the door off Plaintiff; she then went to her automobile, placed her groceries inside, and returned to the store to make a complaint to the store manager. At the time of this alleged incident, Plaintiff was recovering from partial quadriplegia and had been able to ambulate with merely a back brace to support her neck and head.

Settlement Discussions

Defendants contend they made no offers and Plaintiff demanded the following: (1) $1,000,000 in cash; (2) an appointment to the board of directors for Defendant Vons, as a consultant in the design and construction of safety for the disabled; (3) a salaried position at Vons; and (4) a fully-paid medical plan to cover all medical needs of Plaintiff.

Specials in Evidence

$40,000 $100,000

Injuries

No injuries, treatments, and/or surgeries were disclosed.

Deliberation

1/2 day

Poll

12-0

Length

7 days


#78569

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