What happens when you’re a young attorney on your way into work and you suffer a traumatic brain injury after hitting your head on a low-hanging pipe in your Biglaw firm’s parking garage? You’re awarded millions of dollars after winning a jury trial for the grievous injury that’s caused you to leave the legal profession.
Meet Aja Diamond McCoy (née Moore), who had been an associate at Hunton & Williams when an accident occurred that changed her life. In December 2013, McCoy hit her head on a pipe that was about 5 feet above the sidewalk next to the spot where she backed her car into her firm’s garage. She’s not the only person who’d been injured by the pipe — it seems that a paralegal from another firm in the building did the same thing, but in McCoy’s case, the injury incapacitated the “smart, young, up-and-coming attorney,” changing the course of her life.
One of McCoy’s attorneys, John Mabrey of the Mabrey Firm, said, “Her cognitive skills are fine. It was the pain. The head pain is unpredictable and severe.” What’s worse is that the medications his client takes to treat her pain have “debilitating” side effects.
Opus 2 Steps Up Its AI Game With Acquisition Of A Legal Tech Startup
With the addition of Uncover’s technology, the litigation software is delivering rapid innovation.
The Daily Report has the breakdown of McCoy’s jury award:
The jury deliberated for about 3½ hours following a four-day trial before Fulton County State Court Judge John Mather, Mabrey said. The verdict totaled slightly more than $8 million. The biggest portion—$4.4 million—was for future lost wages. The jury awarded another $2.5 million for noneconomic damages. Another $500,000 was awarded for past lost wages. The remaining $212,000 was for medical expenses.
The jury apportioned 21.75 percent of the fault to McCoy and 78.25 percent to the parking garage, reducing the total award to $6.3 million.
Best of luck to Aja Diamond McCoy as she continues to recover from her injuries.
Atlanta Lawyer Injured in Firm Parking Garage Awarded $8M Verdict [Daily Report]
What Even Is AI ‘Competence’? It Depends.
Takeaways from a Legalweek panel on evolving malpractice risks.
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.