Eight years after a tragic gym accident left a young man wheelchair bound he is finally getting some justice. In 2001, Harold Leon Bostick, a native of Pennsylvania, became a quadriplegic when weightlifting equipment crashed onto his neck. After a long fight for justice, Bostick was finally awarded $18.6 million in damages recently.
This hard fought victory does not console the 39 year old who longs to return to the life he had before the accident.
A former marine who holds degrees in chemical engineering, business and law, Bostick suffered from temporary amnesia after his accident at Gold's Gym in Venice. The accident, caused by a Flex Equipment Co. Smith machine, took place because the safety stops weren't installed on the machine.
After this, Bostick sued Flex and Gold's Gym. He settled with Flex and its insurer, Atlantic Mutual for $1 million. However, Atlantic Mutual never responded to Bostick's offer. Later a Superior Court jury found Flex liable and awarded Bostick more than $14.6 million. Peeved at having to pay a such a large amount when they could have settled for less, Flex then gave Bostick permission to sue Atlantic Mutual for bad faith for refusing to settle earlier in the case. Gold's Gym settled with Bostick for $7.3 million.
Last week, after seven years of litigation, a U.S. district Court jury ordered the insurance company to make a payout of $11.3 million.
To read the complete article by Joanna Lin on the Los Angeles Times website, click here.
Pic courtesy pbo31/ Patrick Boury from flickr.com
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