The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson exposes failures in guest safety protocols
A Dallas County jury has awarded $9.45 million to a man who suffered a serious fall at Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas’ Uptown district.
The verdict comes after a week-long trial in the 162nd Judicial District Court, where jurors heard evidence that the hotel failed to secure or warn guests about a dangerous condition in its courtyard that led to a guest’s fall.
“Hotel operators failed to provide minimum lighting required by building codes and failed to take basic steps to warn or protect guests from a very real hazard,” said trial lawyer Tim Newsom with The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson. “We are pleased that the jury held the hotel accountable for choosing to protect their property over guest safety.”
Attorneys Debbie Dudley Branson and Linda Yee Villa tried the case alongside Mr. Newsom.
According to the lawsuit, James Shelton McClure, 74, and his wife were guests at the hotel while seeking refuge during the historic Winter Storm Uri, which brought record-low temperatures across the state and left millions of Texans without electricity.
The attorneys say the incident occurred in the early morning hours of March 6, 2021. While the McClures were walking their dog in the hotel's courtyard, Mr. McClure unknowingly stepped into an empty fountain basin that sits level with the concrete surface. The basin, approximately two feet deep, had been drained of water due to the freezing conditions.
The petition says the area was unlit, and there were no cones, barriers or warning signs indicating the presence of the drop-off.
As a result of the fall, Mr. McClure suffered serious orthopedic and neurological injuries. He underwent four surgeries for a broken ankle, ultimately requiring a total replacement. The fall also aggravated a pre-existing neck condition, leading to nerve damage to his dominant hand.
The case is James Shelton McClure and Madeline McClure v. Hotel Crescent Court, et al., Cause No. DC-22-05954 in Dallas County.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
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