In a world that never slows down, the opportunities for travel and transportation grow more diverse by the day. While this freedom delivers more choices for fun and adventure, it can also lead to the emergence of companies who play "fast and loose" with the rules, often jeopardizing your safety.
This is especially true in the state of Florida, a major hub and destination, where many travel industry companies are headquartered and/or conduct business. Rossman Baumberger Reboso Spier & Connolly, P.A.'s work in the areas of automobile accidents, cruise ship passenger injuries, seaman's injuries, small boat and jet ski accidents, railroad cases, aviation disasters, and small airplane crashes has produced significant results for clients, including a $5.5 million verdict in an admiralty wrongful death case, a $6.5 million recovery and $3.4 million verdict in separate automobile accident cases, a $2.5 million verdict for the loss of a railroad worker's limb, and a $2.75 million settlement against a major national car rental company.
The pace of the world will probably never change, but those who profit from our enjoyment of travel should (and will) be held accountable when their negligence leads to injury.
- Automobile Accidents
- Cruise Ship Passenger Injuries
- Seaman's Injuries
- Small Boat & Jet ski Accidents
- Railroad Cases
- Aviation Disasters
- Small Plane Crashes
VERDICTS
Seat Belts were trapped under back seat; Steve Rossman obtains a $4.5 million settlement
While Rossman Baumberger Reboso Spier & Connolly, P.A.’s client was on vacation in a foreign country, he was riding in the back seat of a rental car. Although he looked for seat belts so he could buckle up, he could not find them. The car swerved off the vehicle and down an incline, and the passenger was ejected. He suffered a spinal cord injury.
In early 2005, prior to trial, RBRS founding partner Steve Rossman obtained a $4.5 million confidential settlement for the plaintiff after a complex legal battle over responsibility for the absence of seat belts.
Mr. Rossman sued the US-based parent company of a foreign rental car agency on behalf of the seriously injured man and his wife.
The defendant argued that the danger of not having seat belts was obvious and that the foreign rental car company was an independent contractor and not an agent of the parent. The judge agreed with the defendant and granted the Motion for Summary Judgment.
On the Motion for Rehearing, Mr. Rossman argued that an obvious danger would not alleviate the rental car company’s duty to properly maintain or inspect the rental car, and that the seat belts were allowed to be buried under the back seat after a negligent inspection contrary to company policy.
On rehearing, the judge reversed her order, allowing the case to go before the jury. At this point, the defendant settled.
$455,000 jury verdict for short-haul driver
Jorge Gonzalez was a truck driver for a local short-haul company. One day he was sent to a glass manufacturer to pick up several crates of glass and to bring them to the defendant, Econocaribe Consolidators, Inc., for shipment overseas. The crates weighed nearly a ton each and were placed on their sides like mattresses.
After Mr. Gonzalez arrived and the first crate was removed, the defendant’s forklift operator suddenly and without warning began dragging the second crate. Mr. Gonzalez was alone in the back of his truck and no Econocaribe employees were there to steady the crate. It immediately toppled toward Jorge, who threw his arms up to avoid being crushed. Because of the crate’s immense weight, his left forearm was immediately snapped in three places, and he was screaming in pain.
Jorge ultimately underwent three surgeries in his left arm, which included the insertion of metal plates and screws to properly align his shattered arm bones.
Econocaribe’s insurance company responded to the lawsuit by wholly faulting Jorge for his injuries, by alleging he pulled the crate down on himself. After a five-day trial, the jury found Econocaribe 85 percent responsible for the accident and awarded Jorge $455,000 for his injuries.