Jury Awards $750,000 to Victim of Deck Collapse

By Richard Seward

Published on February 19, 2008

During Hoopfest 2004 at Diamond Horseshoe Lounge, Ronni Bryce was one of approximately 80 people injured after a deck attached to the club collapsed and sent patrons plummeting several feet.

Bryce and three other victims were taken by helicopter to nearby hospitals. Bryce suffered a broken pelvis, lower back injury, and a dislocated and broken elbow. Her injuries resulted in significantly limited mobility until her back and pelvis healed. Her elbow required an implant to compensate for a shattered segment of bone, but the full range of movement in her elbow has since been reduced by approximately 45 degrees.

During the trial, Bryce’s attorneys argued that both Diamond Horseshoe Lounge and its property owner, Bert Schultz, bore responsibility for the accident. The deck itself was alleged to be poorly constructed, and wooden shims that had been added to stabilize the crumbling foundation suggested that Schultz was aware the deck had structural problems.

Bryce and her attorneys sought $4 million for pain and suffering and an additional $75,000 in compensation for medical expenses. The jury ultimately awarded Bryce $750,000 in damages for her injuries.

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