Home Depot Brain Injury Lawsuit Settlement Reached After Opening Statements
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In 2017, Home Depot agreed to settle a brain injury lawsuit after completing the opening statements.
The Case: Jaime Beltran v. The Home Depot Inc.
The Court: Kern County Superior Court
The Case No.: S-1500-CV-283696
The Plaintiff: Jaime Beltran v. The Home Depot Inc.
The plaintiff in the case, Jaime Beltran, a 54-year-old, was injured when metal boxes fell on him as he shopped at a Home Depot store. His attorney argued that the incident caused a traumatic brain injury that resulted in $8 million in medical expenses alone. Additionally, Beltran claimed he suffered from pain, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and decreased executive function abilities daily. Before the incident, Beltran managed a cement design company. However, in 2013, he claims he was shopping when a Home Depot employee on a ladder accidentally knocked two laptop-sized metal boxes containing re-keying supplies off a shelf onto Beltran’s head. The boxes allegedly fell from a height of about eight feet. Initially, Beltran told the Home Depot employees that he was just dazed, but he went to the emergency room due to nausea and pain within hours. Once there, he was diagnosed with a concussion. The plaintiff’s attorney claimed the accident was caught on video and reviewed by Home Depot management, but the video was no longer available. The absence of the video was not explained.
The Defendant: Jaime Beltran v. The Home Depot Inc.
The defendant in the case, Home Depot, admitted to liability for the accident. However, they maintained that the plaintiff suffered a less severe injury than the industry described in the lawsuit and that some symptoms resulted from untreated psychological issues. The defendant initially argued the plaintiff would be fairly compensated with a $1.3 million award.
The Case: Jaime Beltran v. The Home Depot Inc.
Since the incident in Home Depot in 2013, Beltran has undergone 60 neurological tests. The plaintiff’s attorney explained that Beltran had abandoned his cement design business (out of necessity), can only drive short distances, mainly avoids social engagements and situations, and is home-bound with few reasonable prospects for employment. Due to this future impact, and the already sizeable medical bills, the plaintiff’s attorney argued that the jury should award between $30 and $50 million to provide justice.
If you have questions about how to file a California traumatic brain injury lawsuit, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.
