Bill Chapman Secures Defense Verdict in "Mode of Operation" Trial

A Worcester Superior Court jury returned a defense verdict on September 18, 2014 for Bill Chapman.  Plaintiff slipped and fell in defendant’s supermarket injuring her knee.  Plaintiff claimed she fell in a streaked and slimy puddle, and that a store employee indicated prior awareness of the substance.  Defense witnesses described the water as a few small clear drops, and denied prior awareness. The defense emphasized that the store took reasonable precautions to avoid injuries to shoppers.  Plaintiff sought a recovery including $22,000 in medical bills and $151,000 in lost wages.  The defense offered an orthopedic surgeon and an economist who testified that plaintiff’s damages were significantly less.  The jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding that the defendant was not negligent.