After a three-week jury trial, a King County (Seattle, WA) jury returned a $13,159,456 verdict for Dearie Law Group client Lesley Mettler Auld. Founding Attorney Ray Dearie and Attorney Drew Lombardi served as counsel to Ms. Mettler Auld throughout the legal process.
On July 8, 2021, Ms. Mettler Auld slipped and fell on a sidewalk in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, causing both of her quadriceps tendons to rupture. The subject sidewalk, covered in water and an invisible sheen of algae, was a notoriously dangerous hazard amongst residents of the neighborhood. However, it was Ms. Mettler Auld’s first time walking in the neighborhood, and the hazardous spot was shaded by a large hedge.
During trial, the jury heard testimony from a Seattle resident who slipped and fell two years prior to Ms. Mettler Auld’s slip and fall and reported it to the City of Seattle through the City’s “Find It Fix It” application. The jury also heard testimony from a different Seattle resident who slipped and fell one month prior to Ms. Mettler Auld’s slip and fall (causing a broken wrist) and also reported it to the City.
Despite these complaints, neither the City of Seattle nor the corporation that owns the adjoining property fixed the sidewalk’s slippery condition.
Prior to the fall, Ms. Mettler Auld was an elite ultra-distance athlete and professional fitness coach. She had competed in 14 Ironman races, qualified twice for the Ironman World Championships (top 2% of her age division), competed in 100-mile races, and won the women’s division of multiple 25K and 50-mile ultra-marathons.
Since the fall, Ms. Mettler Auld has endured five surgeries towards regaining function and mobility, as well as alleviating pain, in her knees. Unfortunately, she still faces the prospect of additional surgeries.
“The jury heard that those responsible for maintaining the sidewalk had to have known of the deplorable condition of the walkway, which led to my client’s tragic injuries,” said Ray Dearie. “Had the adjacent apartment building owners or the City taken a nominal amount of action to maintain the sidewalk, my client would still be running marathons and ultramarathons today.”
Founding Attorney Ray Dearie and Attorney Drew Lombardi both added that they thank the jury for their hard work in this case, which included sitting through nearly three weeks of testimony, evaluating voluminous exhibits, and deliberating for three days before rendering their verdict.
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