Slip and Fall Lawyer NY
Professional Musician Received an $11 Million Award in Her Personal Injury Case
The New York Post reported in November 2019 that acclaimed cellist Jessica Elkhatib received an $11 million award in her personal injury lawsuit against a Scarsdale market and the company tasked with maintaining the safety of the store parking lot. Her case, filed in Westchester County Supreme Court in 2016, took years to conclude. During this time, Elkhatib has worked tirelessly to recover from her injuries and return to playing the cello. Her ability to play, however, remains hampered, according to her lawyers.
Cellist Who Slipped and Fell in Store Parking Lot Suffered Injuries
The complaint alleged that Elkhatib slipped on black ice in the parking lot of Balducci’s, a “gourmet market” located in Scarsdale. Her lawyer told the post that because of the accident, she “injured her elbow, fractured her right shoulder and herniated a disk in her spine.” Sadly, Elkhatib has been unable to play the cello for more than 10 minutes without numbness, pain, and discomfort.
Musician’s Injuries After Falling In Store Parking Lot Derailed Her Career
While being unable to play the cello might not seem like a serious loss, to Elkhatib, she proved it means everything to her. She has been playing and studying cello for 30 years, is a devoted music teacher, and earns a significant living as a professional cellist.
She has played in Kinky Boots on Broadway, in a performance with Katy Perry, one of Beyoncé’s albums, with the America’s Got Talent orchestra, on SNL, and on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”
As she told the Post “I have been intensely studying the cello since I was ten years old, and having such a devastating injury such as this has completely changed the trajectory of my life.”
Store Owners and Others Have a Duty to Customers to Keep Their Premises Safe
Property owners have a duty to maintain the safety of their premises. The owner of the property on which a parking lot or sidewalk sits is responsible for keeping them safe. This duty may rest with the store owner, landlord, contractor, municipality, or a combination of them, depending on the circumstances of the individual case.
In the case of Elkhatib, liability was shared between the owner of the market and the cleaning crew responsible for clearing the parking lot of ice and snow. The jury verdict awarding her $10.9 million was for past and future pain and suffering, past and future lost earnings, and for future medical expenses.
If You Slip and Fall in Brooklyn, Call The Law Office of Irene H. Gabo, P.C.
When the party or parties responsible for maintaining a safe parking lot or sidewalk, fails to do so, and someone is injured, the victim may sue for negligence. If you slipped and fell in a parking lot in Brooklyn, call the Law Office of Irene H. Gabo, PC, for help. Call our personal injury lawyer representing clients in Brooklyn at 800-560-0214.
