Principals Jackie Kinder and Brendon Sanders recently convinced a jury to award a defendant’s verdict in a fireworks explosion case in favor of their client, a Condominium Association at the Lake of the Ozarks.
A Camden County jury unanimously found in favor of the Association in a case where the Plaintiff, who was a spectator at a fireworks display on common ground, was struck by a wayward firework that blew up in her shoe, causing severe third degree burns on her foot and ankle. Plaintiff had to undergo surgery and months of physical therapy to learn how to walk again. Plaintiff claimed that the Association was responsible for the safety of onlookers at the firework show because the Vice President of the Association was involved in purchasing the fireworks and shooting them off with his guest, and because the incident occurred on common ground, which the Association maintains. Jackie convinced the jury that the Vice President was acting on his own personally and not acting on behalf of the Association and the Association was not a sponsor of the display. In closing arguments, Plaintiff asked the jury to award $1,995,000 however after deliberations the jury came back with a Defendants verdict in favor of the Association.