Sullivan Papain Secures $750,000 Settlement in Supermarket Entrance Injury Case

Sullivan Papain is pleased to report that firm member Deanne M. Caputo recently secured a $750,000 settlement, in a premises liability case.

The case involved a serious incident that occurred in 2024, at a supermarket in Nassau County, New York. The plaintiff was entering the store through an automated door when the incident took place. As the plaintiff approached and began to walk through the entrance, the automated door suddenly malfunctioned and forcefully closed, striking plaintiff and causing her to fall to the ground.

As a result of this, the plaintiff sustained severe and significant injuries, including an impacted and valgus acute subcapital fracture of the right femoral neck. This serious injury required surgical intervention in the form of a closed reduction with percutaneous pinning. In addition to the fracture, the plaintiff suffered other substantial and permanent injuries that have had a lasting impact on her mobility and overall quality of life.

The case was brought on the basis that the automated door improperly operated with a bidirectional, double-acting swing; that there was a failure to properly maintain the automated door and its control system and components and that the said door was not properly indexed and adjusted, amongst other issues that posed inherent safety hazards to patrons accessing the store.  Property owners and operators have a duty to ensure that entryways, including automated systems, are functioning properly in accordance with good and accepted industry standards so as to not pose a risk to the public.

At the time of settlement, the case was in the post-note of issue stage and was resolved at a private mediation. The matter settled for $750,000.

Learn More about Firm Member Deanne Caputo

Deanne Caputo is a member of the firm and a well-respected litigator who handles a vast array of cases, including motor vehicle, premises liability, products liability, sexual assault, construction and work site accidents, municipal liability, nursing home negligence and many others involving serious injuries and wrongful deaths.  Her tenacious advocacy has won her clients millions of dollars in settlements.

To read more about Deanne Caputo, click here.