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Chris Sulock, who works out of the Philadelphia office but is barred and practices in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., secured a full defense verdict for a firm client following a three-day jury trial in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The case involved claims brought by two Plaintiffs who alleged they were assaulted by a mall security guard. Chris represented the security guard’s employer and defended against claims of both vicarious liability and direct negligence.
At trial, Chris and co-counsel successfully presented evidence showing that the Plaintiffs were in the mall after hours and acted as the aggressors in the altercation. Despite credible liability defenses, Plaintiffs refused to reasonably negotiate. Their initial demand was $300,000. Although they ultimately dropped the demand to $80,000 before opening statements, our client held firm with an offer of $50,000.
After deliberation, the jury returned a verdict finding that no battery had occurred, eliminating the need to reach questions of employer liability or negligence. The result: a complete defense victory.
