$2.9 Million Settlement Reached in Personal Injury Case Against Casino Operator

By Andrew Weatherford

Published on August 28, 2009

In an agreement announced earlier this month, a man who lost his leg in an accident at the Foxwood Resort Casino in Connecticut will receive $2.9 million in damages. The operator of the casino, Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises (MPGE), agreed to pay the settlement prior to the case going to trial.

The victim, Richard Murch, 68, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, had traveled to the casino in November of 2006 to celebrate his 45th wedding anniversary with his wife. According to court documents, Murch was retrieving an article of clothing from his truck when he was struck by a vehicle that had been parked two to three car lengths behind him. The vehicle shot forward after a valet reached in from outside the car to start the engine, not realizing that the driver of the vehicle had left the car in first gear without applying the parking brake.

As a result of the accident, Murch's right leg had to be amputated above the knee. He now either wears a prosthetic leg or utilizes a wheelchair.

In addition to the $2.9 million that will be paid by the MPGE and its insurance company, Liberty Mutual, Murch will also receive $100,000 from the insurance company of the driver whose vehicle was responsible for the accident.

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