An Orange County jury has slammed the owners of a Winter Park bar with a verdict of more than $644.7 million after a 57-year-old man fell down a flight of stairs and was left partially quadriplegic. The award was a mix of past and future pain and suffering damages, lost earnings, and other losses, and was returned yesterday. Plaintiff attorneys say the decision highlights the serious risks posed by cramped, poorly maintained stairways in older downtown buildings.
The Fall and the Lawsuit
Court filings identify the plaintiff as Karim Elkasimi and state that the fall happened on Nov. 25, 2017, as he was exiting Park Social, a second-story space in a 1926 building in Winter Park. The complaint describes a run of roughly 20 stairs that were too narrow and too steep, with no grip tape on the treads and inadequate handrails. The case was filed in 2018 and moved through multiple pretrial motions before finally going to a jury trial, according to court records. Docket Alarm.
Verdict Totals and Life-Changing Injuries
Morgan & Morgan says the 57-year-old suffered catastrophic fractures to his neck and skull and now has no feeling from the chest down and essentially no movement in his legs, arms, or torso. He also lost his sense of taste and smell. An Orange County jury awarded $644,751,855.08, including $166 million for past pain and suffering, $363 million for future pain and suffering, $109.5 million for loss of consortium, and about $6.25 million for medical expenses and lost earnings, in a verdict announced on March 12. “No amount of money can restore what he has lost,” Morgan & Morgan attorney Brian McClain said in the firm’s release, as reported by ClickOrlando.
Who Was Named and What Comes Next
The lawsuit named Soho WP and BE-1 Concept Holdings as the owners and operators. Court dockets list SOHO WP LLC d/b/a Boca Kitchen Bar & Market and Swetman Building LLLP among the parties. With awards of this size, defendants commonly pursue post-trial motions, seek a new trial, or file appeals, and insurance carriers often enter the fight, which can stretch collection and resolution out for years. How much of any award is ultimately paid will depend on appeals, judgments, and available insurance coverage. Docket Alarm.
Local Shockwaves for Historic Hotspots
For restaurateurs and landlords in Winter Park’s historic downtown, the verdict is a stark reminder that aging buildings and noncompliant stairways can carry heavy liability. Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan said the case was “deeply personal” because his brother lived as a quadriplegic, which the firm said helped drive its pursuit of accountability. Owners of similarly aged properties may now be rethinking handrails, stair treads, and maintenance plans as they weigh their own exposure. As reported by ClickOrlando.
