Top Workplace Negligence Judgments
(SPEECH)
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(DESCRIPTION)
Logo, the Travelers umbrella. Text, Large Scale Loss. Workplace Negligence. A silhouetted illustration of three business managers, colorized red, stand before their black-and-white companies.
(SPEECH)
SPEAKER: Operating a nightclub, managing a crane company, and owning a hotel. At first glance, one might think that these businesses are completely different. But when it comes to protecting them from unexpected large verdicts, the similarities become apparent.
(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Unpredictability. In animation, the letters in the word tilt, fall, and drop off the screen.
(SPEECH)
That's because unpredictability is the norm for all of their operations.
Risks can come from any direction, and you never know exactly what could go wrong.
(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Workplace Negligence. Red silhouettes of two work colleagues, one with a sling on a broken arm, leaning on a crutch. Dollar signs animate and float off the screen.
(SPEECH)
This includes workplace negligence events, where an employer is held liable for an employee's acts that cause injury to others.
(DESCRIPTION)
Animated hotel room door with a do not disturb card hanging on the knob. The door shakes and opens.
(SPEECH)
In one case, a man attacked his ex-wife while she was staying at a hotel.
(DESCRIPTION)
A timer tracks a lapse in time. After the delay, a police car appears, its overhead red light blinking and tires spinning.
(SPEECH)
Guests alerted hotel staff to the emergency, but the police weren't called until 20 minutes after the attack.
(DESCRIPTION)
A settlement check from the hotel company.
(SPEECH)
The family of the woman filed suit against the hotel company, and the company was ordered to pay $2.4 million.
(DESCRIPTION)
A flatbed truck attempts to raise a board. The board jiggles and knocks over a large pipe. The pipe falls to the ground.
(SPEECH)
In another case, a thousand-pound pipe was knocked loose by a crane, falling on a worker, and killing him instantly. The crane company was deemed responsible and ordered to pay a verdict of almost $21 million in damages.
(DESCRIPTION)
Illustration of a woman's photo ID with name and date of birth redacted.
(SPEECH)
Then there was an instance where a bouncer didn't check an underage woman's ID at the door.
(DESCRIPTION)
On her way home, the woman's car swerves in the road. It crashes, and the car shatters into pieces.
(SPEECH)
She later drove home intoxicated, crashing into another car, and causing two fatalities. The nightclub was deemed negligent, and a verdict of more than $27 million was delivered.
(DESCRIPTION)
Paper on a clipboard. Checkmarks appear across from lines of type.
(SPEECH)
You never expect that the worst could happen to your company, but that's why you prepare for the unexpected.
(DESCRIPTION)
In the second sheet on the clipboard, the lines of type are printed in red, and the checkmarks morph into red question marks. A third sheet is revealed. Under the text is a red box entitled Total Due.
(SPEECH)
Losses like these may exceed the limits of your existing insurance policy, costing far more than just your deductible.
(DESCRIPTION)
The red Travelers umbrella appears.
(SPEECH)
Protect your business from the risk of large workplace negligence verdicts with Travelers solutions and expertise.
(DESCRIPTION)
Logo, Travelers. Text, travelers dot com slash large verdicts.
Even with the proper preventative measures in place, an unpredictable workplace negligence event can impact your business and bottom line. Travelers can help you prepare and protect your business from risks and large-scale losses, like these that topped the National Law Journal's Top 100 Verdicts.1
Improper Supervision Led to Assault
$1 Billion Verdict
While attending a party at an apartment complex, a 14-year-old girl was attacked and assaulted by a security guard at the facility. In subsequent litigation against the guard's employer, Crime Prevention Agency (CPA), plaintiff's counsel asserted that the firm knew of the guard's past improper behavior against guests and tenants and hired him even though he was not licensed to be an armed guard. Additionally, counsel argued that CPA "ignored circumstances that any reasonable person would interpret as leading to the injury."
The court determined that CPA was liable via summary judgment and the case was tried on the issue of damages. CPA did not appear at trial and was not represent by counsel.
Alcohol Service Led to Fatal Car Crash
$27 Million Verdict
After being served alcohol at a local nightclub, a 20-year-old caused a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death of one person and injuries to two others in another vehicle. The husband of the deceased and father of one of the injured parties, as well as the other injured individual, filed suit against the establishment that served the 20-year-old, alleging failure to check her ID and continuing to serve her despite clear intoxication.
After a failure to file a response by the defendant, the cased proceed to a damages-only trial. The jury awarded damages for each party in the vehicle as well as funeral expenses and pain and suffering for the deceased.
Falling Pipe Fatally Injured Worker
$21 Million Verdict
A 1,000-pound pipe was knocked loose at a South Texas refinery when a heat exchanger, being moved by a crane, struck it. The pipe fell and landed on one of the riggers for the move, killing him instantly. His family filed suit against the facility, the crane company and the rigging company, alleging negligence and violation of the operator's safety plan.
Two defendants settled with the family before trial. Plaintiff's counsel alleged that the remaining defendant, B&G Crane Services, was 90% responsible for the incident. B&G denied negligence, arguing that the facility owner and the rigging company oversaw the move. The jury found negligence for all three parties, awarding $44,370,000 in damages. That number was reduced to $20,791,235, post-trial.
Hotel Chain Liable for Stabbing Death
$2.4 Million Verdict
A woman brought her three children to a hotel in Baymont, Texas, to spend time with her ex-husband, the children's father. While making the drop-off, the man repeatedly stabbed the woman, resulting in her death. During the attack, the children attempted to alert hotel staff to the emergency. Despite these efforts, help was not summoned until a guest in a neighboring room called emergency services almost 20 minutes later.
The family of the deceased filed suit against the hotel. The jury returned a verdict of $41,550,000, with hotel ownership responsible for 20%. The parties settled for $2.4 million in mediation.
This material does not imply that coverage exists for any particular claim or loss under any insurance policy or bond issued by Travelers. Coverage depends on the facts and circumstances involved in the claim or loss, all applicable policy or bond provisions and any applicable law.
Sources
¹ The National Law Journal’s 2016-2021 editions of the Top 100 verdicts in the United States. The verdicts summarized above do not involve Travelers insureds.
Related Products & Solutions
Excess Casualty Coverage and Insurance
Travelers Excess Casualty offers excess liability protection in case of an unforeseen, catastrophic loss. Learn more about excess liability coverage.
Commercial Automobile
Offers liability and physical damage protection for your business automobile(s) and for employee drivers.
Insights & Expertise
Gauging Manufacturing Risks
Despite taking proper measures to protect people and equipment, manufacturing companies can still suffer large consequences for unintentional mistakes or oversight.
Motor Vehicle Verdicts over $25 Million
A large-scale auto loss can hit your business from any direction. Travelers can help manage verdicts like these that topped National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts.
Top Premises Liability Judgments
These large verdicts emphasize the importance of having a formal safety and security program in place that can help prevent accidents in and around the property you own or manage.