Jones Act Case Results In Favorable Jury Verdict ($2.2 Million)


Clifford Horwitz and Jay Juchsinger, lead trial attorneys at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, won a $2.2 million jury verdict for a 65-year-old Riverboat janitor who injured his back while lifting and removing trash.

The Case

The case was filed under the Jones Act.

In-Depth Look

The janitor had suffered a back injury years earlier and made a full recovery.  Lifting the trash filled with glass bottles triggered his two-level spinal fusion.

We demonstrated that Harrah’s employees violated company policy by throwing bottles in the trash. The jury found the Plaintiff 25% at fault and reduced the verdict. The company is currently appealing the verdict.

Prior to trial, the company offered to settle. Even after the verdict, the offer increased. Consequently, the janitor will have to wait until the Appellate Court decides if the jury’s verdict was excessive, or if the lower Court made a legal ruling that was improper.