Under California law, landlords and their security guards have a duty to protect their patrons if they are in danger of being injured. However, a shopping center owner and his employee stood by while an attacker brutalized John Doe over a simple misunderstanding. Tragically, not only did the staff remain idle, they threw him out from the property. As a result, John suffered a fractured skull and permanent brain injuries. To attain justice, John’s attorney coordinated as many medical appointments as possible and used an animation during mediation to illustrate the preventable damages he suffered.
Surveillance footage captured the assailant, who was twice John’s size and weight, stomping on his head while a guard watched. Immediately after, John experienced fatigue, blurred vision, and loss of balance — symptoms of brain damage. His sister rushed him to a nearby hospital. There, John underwent surgery and had metal plates fixated to his jaw to repair the fractures. As he recovered, John’s sister enlisted the help of Granth Crhoelman of California Injury, PLC. Granth met with them at the hospital and agreed to represent John in his fight for justice.
Before filing the lawsuit, Granth organized John’s transportation to and from his health examinations to document the severity of his traumas. Medical experts found that John’s head injuries caused several cognitive deficits, including depression, aggression, and diminished memory. Then, Granth filed his case against the business owner, stating his employee’s indifference contributed to the severity of John’s damages and impairments. Finally, Granth obtained surveillance footage of the confrontation from an uninvolved witness, a key piece of evidence showing that the onslaught was preventable had the security guard stepped in.
Granth’s goal was to compel a mediator and the Defense to offer proper compensation for the incident before a potential jury awarded a higher verdict. As Granth prepared for mediation, he shared John’s medical imagery with DK Global so they could illustrate the fractures and brain injuries in 3D.
The video began with John apologizing to the man for dropping an object on his Mercedes-Benz. Then, the man grabbed John from atop the stairs and dragged him to the floor, stomping on his head repeatedly for nearly 45 seconds. A security guard finally intervened, but only after the attacker finished and the damage was done. Next, the presentation transitioned to a skeletal view of John’s head as medical hardware was secured to both sides of his jaw. Finally, the presentation listed John’s mental impairments stemming from his traumatic brain injury.
With the DK Global video demonstrating the Defendant’s apathy and negligence, Granth attended mediation and attained a favorable, confidential settlement to aid John’s future medical care and finances.
Granth Crhoelman is the Managing Attorney at California Injury, PLC. He specializes in personal injury cases, premises liability, and vehicle accidents. From the interview to financial recovery, Granth is focused on his clients as he guides them through the legal process. Granth began his career as a tax attorney and has since then represented survivors of catastrophic injuries with a proven track record of success.
