$600K Verdict for Mercy Employee Who Broke Ankle on Hospital Ramp

Case Summary

Simon Law secured a $600,000 jury verdict on behalf of a Mercy Hospital employee who suffered a serious ankle injury after slipping and falling on a deteriorated wheelchair ramp at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. The St. Louis County jury found that Mercy failed to maintain the ramp’s slip-resistant surface properly, assigning 80% fault to the hospital after deliberating for approximately two hours.

Key Highlights

1. The client, a medical assistant at Mercy Hospital, slipped and fell on a wheelchair ramp during light rain while walking to work, fracturing her ankle and requiring surgical repair.
2. Evidence showed the ramp had been coated years earlier with textured, slip-resistant material that had significantly degraded, leaving the surface smooth and unsafe. Mercy had never performed maintenance or reapplication of the coating.
3. Simon Law attorneys demonstrated that the deteriorated condition of the ramp violated accessibility and safety standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act, creating an unreasonably dangerous condition.
4. The jury rejected Mercy’s arguments and awarded $600,000 in damages for pain, suffering, and future harm without any medical bills presented at trial.

Premises Liability Lawsuit: Case Analysis

The lawsuit stemmed from a September 21, 2021, incident in which the client slipped while stepping onto a wheelchair ramp she had safely used many times before, including in rainy conditions. Over roughly a decade, the aggregate material designed to provide traction had worn away, transforming the ramp into a smooth surface with little resistance.

Simon Law argued that Mercy Hospital failed to conduct basic maintenance on an accessibility feature intended to protect patients, employees, and visitors. The firm countered Mercy’s reliance on tribometer testing by demonstrating that such testing did not reflect the long-term degradation of the ramp’s surface. Ordinary rainfall, Simon Law argued, merely exposed the dangerous condition, it did not cause it.

Mercy challenged the circumstances of the fall, the extent of the injuries, and the hospital’s responsibility, asking the jury to find the incident was a simple accident and award no damages. The jury disagreed.

Premises Liability Lawsuit Outcome & Impact

The jury assigned 80% fault to Mercy Hospital and awarded $600,000 in damages, holding the hospital accountable for failing to maintain a critical accessibility feature. Notably, Simon Law did not seek compensation for medical bills, focusing instead on the client’s pain, suffering, and fear of future medical treatment.

The verdict reinforces the importance of maintaining accessible facilities in compliance with safety and disability standards. It also reflects the jury’s rejection of victim-blaming defenses and recognition of the long-term impact of preventable injuries.

Additional Case Information

For additional information, contact Simon Law attorneys Johnny M. Simon or Katie St. John.

1. Press Release: Simon Law Wins $600K For Mercy Employee Who Broke Ankle During Fall On Ramp