Greene County jury rejects $2MM claim, returns defense verdict

A grocery store customer who was injured after slipping and falling on Murphy's Oil Soap brought a claim for past and future medical expenses totaling over $1.4MM against the corporation that owned the store. Plaintiff claimed she was rendered totally disabled as a result of spinal cord injuries resulting from the fall. She presented expert testimony from orthopedic surgeon Robert Bennett, pain management doctor Rena Tenario and life care planner Becky Duwe. Plaintiff claimed the store violated its own written policy requiring store employees to inspect the aisles every 20 minutes as the store only required inspections every hour. The store manager found Murphy's oil soap on the floor where plaintiff fell, but the store maintained it had no knowledge of the spill. John Schultz tried the case for the defendant. Laura Paczocha v. RCPS, Inc Case No. 0831-CV11799.