$35.9 Million

Verdict for Paralyzed Worker

The Case: In May 2013, 28-year-old construction worker Hugo Hernandez Palomino was working on scaffolding at a Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) powerhouse in Montgomery County, Maryland, when a transformer that he had been told by Pepco was de-energized electrocuted him. The shock force burned 10 percent of his body and knocked him from of the scaffolding. He landed on concrete below, snapping his spine. The incident left him permanently paralyzed from the neck down. He can no longer work and will require 24-hour attendant care for the rest of his life.

The Outcome: After initially denying liability, Pepco and its insurers admitted fault—but refused to pay for Hernandez’s lost wages and the future medical care costs dictated by his physicians, which led to a jury trial. We argued that his future medical care necessitates 24 hours of licensed practical nurse care per day. An economist testified that the present value cost of funding this and other medical care for the next 52 years would total $22.2 to 24.4 million. Ultimately, the jury awarded our client $35.9 million to cover economic and non-economic damages.

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Testimonial

When your loved one’s insurance claim is denied, it’s both emotionally devastating and confusing. David and the team went right to work for us and were always respectful of our emotions and opinions. During that two-and-a-half-year process, they became like family, guiding and supporting us every step of the way. Kay Newman