When a routine dinner out ended in a serious spinal injury, Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers stepped in to hold a negligent business accountable. Attorneys Milt Stratos and John Aylor, assisted by Case Manager Nicci Pittman, worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, build the case, and secure justice for their client.
Dinner at a Popular Breakfast Restaurant Turns Dangerous
After finishing dinner at a well-known restaurant in Monck’s Corner, Peter*, a humble, hardworking South Carolinian, did what anyone raised with good manners would do. He held the door open for his wife and mother-in-law so they could walk through safely.
As soon as they passed through, Peter followed behind and released the heavy double glass door. What he didn’t know was that the door was badly broken. Propelled by the suction inside the vestibule, the door swung violently and unexpectedly, slamming into Peter’s back with tremendous force.
The impact from the three-ply shatterproof glass and metal door frame left him in immediate pain. Despite knowing he was hurt, Peter’s first instinct wasn’t about himself; it was about making sure no one else got injured. He turned around and went back into the restaurant to report the hazard to staff.
That’s when he learned the shocking truth: multiple employees admitted they already knew the door was broken, and that it had been that way for months.
A Preventable Hazard with Lasting Consequences
Businesses are required by law to maintain safe premises for their customers. That means regularly inspecting their property, fixing hazards promptly, and warning patrons of any known dangers. When a company fails to meet that standard, it’s considered premises liability, a form of negligence that holds property owners responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions they knew about or should have known about.
In this case, the restaurant had actual notice (its employees knew the door was malfunctioning) and constructive notice (the defect existed long enough that it should have been fixed). Despite this, no warning was posted and no repairs were made.
Because of that inaction, Peter suffered a serious spinal injury that would change his life.
Spine Injury Aggravated Requiring Surgery
Peter had undergone a lower lumbar fusion three years earlier, but he had fully recovered and returned to normal life before this incident. Sadly, the intense force of the door strike destabilized that prior fusion, setting off months of debilitating pain and physical limitations.
He spent years pursuing conservative treatments, including physical therapy and injections, hoping to avoid additional surgery. But as his back injury symptoms worsened, his doctors confirmed that his spine had been severely aggravated by the impact.
Two years after the incident, Peter underwent an anterior lumbar interbody fusion at L4-5, extending the previous fusion to stabilize his spine from L3 through L5. His medical expenses totaled over $350,000 by the time our team sent a demand letter to the restaurant’s insurance provider, and his treatment continues today.
Although Peter had prior back surgery, this didn’t weaken his case, it strengthened it. Often called the “eggshell client” rule, the law recognizes that a plaintiff with a pre-existing condition is more vulnerable to injuries arising from negligence. Therefore, it prevents the defendant from using the victim’s limitations against them. In this case, Peter’s detailed medical records clearly showed how the incident changed his condition.
Standing Up to a National Chain
Attorneys Milt Stratos and John Aylor, assisted by Case Manager Nicci Pittman, took on the case after the restaurant’s insurance company denied all liability. Refusing to accept that outcome, they filed a lawsuit and began building the evidence.
They deposed former employees, gathered witness statements, and even prepared to depose the uncooperative franchise owner. The pressure worked. Once the defense realized the strength of the case, they agreed to mediation, where the parties reached a $750,000 settlement.
Reflecting on the case, Attorney Stratos said, “It was great having a teammate like John. Working together made the process more enjoyable, and even more rewarding when we won.”
Attorney Aylor personally delivered the settlement check to Peter, providing closure for a long and painful chapter for a client whose kindness was met with negligence.
Justice for Everyday South Carolinians Injured by Negligent Business Owners
At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we’re proud to fight for clients like Peter, hardworking, compassionate people who just want to live their lives safely and be treated fairly. No one should suffer because a business or property owner failed to fix a known hazard. When preventable accidents happen, we step in to make things right.
Since 1968, our firm has helped injury victims across South Carolina rebuild their lives after serious accidents. From the Lowcountry to the Upstate, our attorneys have recovered life-changing results for thousands of clients by treating every case with the care and attention it deserves.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, you have rights. Our experienced premises liability attorneys can help you hold negligent property owners accountable.
Call Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers today at (888) 324-3100 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.
* Client’s name has been changed to protect his identity
Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
