"Broken Glass Door Causes Permanent Brain Damage" Claim
Complaints of Daily Life Discomfort... $35 Million Compensation Verdict
A woman in New York, USA, who claimed to have suffered permanent brain damage after being hit by shards from a broken glass door of a building, is set to receive approximately 47.2 billion KRW in compensation.
Closed-circuit (CC) TV footage capturing the scene at the time of the accident in February 2015. The glass door shattered the moment Megan Brown and the man following her opened the door. Afterwards, Brown is seen walking while holding her head. [Image source=YouTube capture]
On the 4th (local time), foreign media including the New York Post and The Guardian reported that Megan Brown (36), a former JP Morgan analyst, won a damages lawsuit against the building owner. A New York court jury ruled that the building owner must pay Brown a total of $35 million (about 47.18 billion KRW) in compensation.
The accident occurred in February 2015 at a building located on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. At the time, Brown pushed the glass entrance door with her shoulder to exit the building, and a man following her pushed the center of the door with his hand holding a mobile phone. Suddenly, the door shattered into pieces, and the shards poured over Brown’s head. Nearby CCTV footage captured Brown clutching her head and staggering.
Brown claimed that she suffered "permanent traumatic brain injury" from the accident. She explained that she experienced headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and a risk of early-onset dementia. She also said that her promising career as a 27-year-old analyst was effectively cut short, and she faced difficulties in her relationship with her fianc?, ultimately leading to a breakup.
CCTV footage capturing the scene at the time of the accident in February 2015. The glass door shattered the moment Megan Brown and the man following her opened the door. Afterwards, Brown is seen walking while holding her head. [Image source=YouTube capture]
In court, Brown stated, "I lost my sense of smell and taste, and even forgot the Spanish I once spoke fluently." She added, "My memory, concentration, and vocabulary have all deteriorated." She continued, "I took a year off after the accident and returned to work, but due to aftereffects, I was unable to perform well and was eventually fired in 2021."
However, the building owner’s lawyer argued, "Brown was leaning on the door, and the man pushed the door with the edge of his phone. The temperature outside was low, and it was warm inside. The glass could not withstand the force applied." He further stated, "There were no safety issues with the building. There is no evidence of cracks in the glass door, and it shattered into small pieces as expected." He also rejected Brown’s claim of severe brain injury. The building owner’s side said, "The only injury Brown sustained was a cut on her hand, which was treated within just five days," and added, "Brown’s testimony is inconsistent and cannot be trusted." Brown’s side countered, "The inconsistencies in the testimony are evidence of brain injury."
After the dispute between both sides, the six-member jury unanimously ruled in favor of Brown. According to the jury’s verdict, they noted that "the building owner’s negligence was a 'substantial factor' in causing Brown’s injuries." They ruled that the building owner must pay Brown a total of $35 million for past, present, and future pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of enjoyment of life.
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