Peru, IL – Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann Trial Attorneys Craig D. Brown, James A. McPhedran and Patrick J. Herrmann recently secured an $850,000 settlement on behalf of a woman who suffered injuries after falling through a defective septic tank cover at a vacation rental.
The client was staying at the vacation rental and walking her dog in the yard when the ground beneath her suddenly gave way. Stepping onto what appeared to be a secure concrete septic tank cover, she fell directly through the lid into the tank, sustaining injuries to her leg, ankle, and foot.
An investigation revealed that the property owners had recently hired a contractor to service the septic tank’s aeration system. To save time and cut corners, the contractor reused the property’s original, concrete lid rather than replacing it with a properly fitted, structural cover. While the old lid visually obscured the opening, it was completely unstable, creating a hidden trap for anyone walking on the premises.
The fall resulted in trauma to our client’s leg, ankle, and foot which developed into Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic condition that causes severe, persistent pain.
“Property owners have a fundamental legal duty to exercise reasonably care to see that their premises are reasonably safe for guests,” said James A. McPhedran, Partner. “This settlement reflects accountability for that negligence and provides compensation to the injured woman.”
The defense contested the claim, but Attorney McPhedran defeated the defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, establishing a sound foundation to obtain a reasonable settlement.
The $850,000 settlement provides our client with essential financial relief, covering her past medical bills and providing financial resources for her going forward.
“When people book a vacation rental, they expect it to be safe, not riddled with hidden hazards,” added Craig D. Brown, Partner. “Cutting corners on basic repairs carries real consequences and this result ensures our client gets the long-term care she needs.”
If you or a loved one has been injured, we want to hear from you. Call Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann at 815-223-0230 or Meyers & Flowers at 630-232-6333 for your free, no obligation case evaluation.
About Meyers & Flowers
Led by Illinois Top 100 Super Lawyer and former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Peter J. Flowers, the Meyers & Flowers team of experienced trial attorneys routinely take on large challenges and succeed. For more than two decades, the firm has represented clients both locally in Chicago and nationally in a full spectrum of cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, sexual abuse, medical malpractice, product liability, and corporate litigation.
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