SR Secures Premises Liability Dismissals

Nov 5, 2015 | News

Spicer Rudstrom, PLLC continually and aggressively looks for motions for summary judgment (MSJ) opportunities, and attorneys with the firm have had success securing them for their clients. When successful, these win eliminate the expense and exposure of proceeding to a jury for clients. Attorney Richard E. Spicer, a member of the firm’s Nashville office, has filed and won a recent string of premises liability dismissals via MSJ, including:

  • A case for a national retail grocery store chain, wherein the plaintiff allegedly slipped and fell in milk that had been dribbled along the floor of the store, and after his investigation, it was found that the plaintiff had herself spilled the milk.
  • A case where the plaintiff fell in a snow-covered parking lot, breaking his leg and sustaining other injuries. Rich established a lack of negligence on the owner and being at least 50 percent at fault.
  • A case where the plaintiff allegedly fell over some twine in the parking lot of a major home improvement chain, sustaining injury. Rich established the store had no notice of the twine.
  • A case whereby the plaintiff fell in the bathroom of a major national grocery store chain. Rich established that the plaintiff tracked water into the restroom from the rain outside. It was actively raining, she was wearing crocs, and we established that she herself tracked the water into the bathroom.

Rich represents insurance companies and their insureds, as well as self-insured companies in serious litigation involving construction law, premises liability, insurance law, product liability, automobile and company trucking issues, and other complex litigation involving generally high-exposure claims. He has developed a particular focus on the hospitality and retail industry, and the companies that he represents include many of the largest and most recognizable companies and brands in the United States and around the world. He is the chair of the firm’s Retail and Hospitality Practice Group.