TOM PAPAKALODOUKAS VS WAL-MART STORES INC
Feb 06, 2013OUTCOME: Won a $1,287,144 verdict
After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Wal-Mart 90% at fault for the severe injuries of its customer. They determined that Wal-Mart negligently assembled and maintained a Gatorade sign that h ... ad fallen to the floor causing Tom Papakalodoukas, age 41, to violently fall to the ground tearing his biceps tendon in his right dominant arm. The jury determined the evidence showed Wal-Mart discarded the display sign after the fall even though it knew from store surveillance the display was the reason the sign fell. Wal-Mart then defended the case claiming the display had been properly assembled and maintained. Wal-Mart blamed Gatorade for providing plastic screws that could have easily broken when attached to the sign display. The verdict was awarded by an all female, St. Lucie County jury in front of Circuit Court Judge Dwight Geiger. [St. Lucie County Florida Circuit Court Case# 562011CA002728AXXXHC]
