Michigan Jury to Decide Fault for Slip and Fall
A Michigan jury will be tasked with deciding who is to blame for a man suffering a severe knee injury when he slipped on shotgun pellets. The man, Russell Albertson, was touring an Ervin Industries plant when he slipped on shotgun pellets, manufactured at the plant, that laid on the floor. While Ervin Industries’ attorneys argued that Mr. Albertson was responsible for his own safety. However, Mr. Albertson told the judge that he did not see the pellets, and the judge agreed with Mr. Albertson’s attorney, who argued that because the pellets were not open and obvious, Mr. Albertson should not, by law, be blamed for the injury. Rather, the judge agreed, a jury should decide whether Ervin Industries violated a duty to protect people on its property or Mr. Albertson failed to properly protect himself.
Property owners are generally responsible for ensuring the safety of their own buildings and land. As this decision in Michigan demonstrates, while it is sometimes an individual’s responsibility to protect himself on another’s property, the law does not free property owners of all responsibility. Therefore, fault is a question for the jury to decide on each case. If you have been injured while on another person’s property, you may be legally entitled to fair and just compensation. Please feel free to reach out to Plattner Verderame, P.C. for assistance in analyzing your case and whether you have a valid claim. We are honest attorneys who spend our days helping honest clients.
Partner Frank Verderame is a seasoned trial attorney, who has dedicated his life to helping victims of serious injuries. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation, and has been an active part of legal communities and organizations since he started his practice, back in 1983.
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