$9.8 Million Verdict Against Museum for Dangerous Stair Condition
Premises Liability
Smith v. Zimmerman Automobile Museum (Los Angeles County Superior Court): On August 26, 2025, a unanimous jury in Los Angeles returned a verdict awarding $9,815,558 to the plaintiff in a premises liability case arising from a fall at the Zimmerman Automobile Museum in El Segundo, California. The plaintiff suffered a life-altering and surgically significant neck injury after tripping on an unsafe staircase at the museum.
Plaintiff asserted that the museum failed in its duty to maintain safe premises and neglected to warn visitors of a hazardous stair condition. The defense did not contest liability, and the jury found the museum negligent in its obligations to lawful visitors.
The verdict comprised both economic and noneconomic damages, totaling $9,815,558.
Plaintiff was represented by Ed Morgan and Anouk Rondel of DTLA Law Group.
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