A repairman dropped his toolbox in the middle of a Maine casino’s employee entranceway and stepped outside. Surveillance video captured a longtime employee entering moments later, greeting everyone with a smile as she had done for years. Tragically, she tripped over the toolbox, broke her right arm, and tore her rotator cuff. To make matters worse, her injuries deteriorated and afflicted her with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), two incurable conditions that cause persistent pain and numbness. Michael Bigos of Berman & Simmons represented the woman and used an animation to show how her injuries developed into the two debilitating and permanent disorders.
The woman’s injuries were treated at a nearby emergency room. Shortly after her release, her discomfort and inflammation intensified. When she checked herself back into the hospital, the doctors noted the severity of her symptoms was inconsistent with the degree of her injuries. They diagnosed her with CRPS — a condition dubbed “the suicide disease” — and TOS.
The woman’s pain was so severe that she could not return to work. She filed for workers’ compensation to support herself financially. Her workers’ compensation attorney referred her to Michael Bigos to help her attain justice.
Michael obtained the surveillance footage from the casino. However, he realized the video failed to show the gravity of her injuries and explain why they developed into CRPS and TOS. Michael knew he needed a way to connect how orthopedic injuries can turn into neurological disabilities. Thus, he shared the video and his medical records with DK Global to illustrate the woman’s damages and explain the nuances of her impairments.
The presentation began with security footage showing the Defendant leaving his toolbox in the walkway. After the fall, a 3D animated model of the woman highlighted her dislocated elbow and torn rotator cuff. Her medical imagery was enhanced and displayed alongside her injuries. To describe CRPS and TOS, the animation showed how the injuries compressed her nerves and veins, causing constricted blood flow. Ultimately, her injuries aggravated her sympathetic nervous system and made it abnormally sensitive, causing constant inflammation, pain, and numbness. Finally, to show her long and painful road to recovery, her rotator cuff surgery was animated.
Michael Bigos handles complex personal injury cases. He is a Past President of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and has served as a Governor of the American Association for Justice. Recognized as one of the "Best Lawyers in America," Michael has also received the “AV Preeminent” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Michael has also been named a “Super Lawyer” for achieving remarkable results through hard work and cutting-edge trial skills.
