Woman struck in head at Wells Fargo office wins $4.5 million judgment

A woman who was struck in the head by a metal door closer at a west suburban Wells Fargo office has won a $4.5 million judgment, the largest ever for a personal injury case case in DuPage County.

Amy Skinger, 42, was entering the Wells Fargo mortgage retail office on Fox Valley Road in Aurora on May 14, 2012. A metal door closer unit detached, swung down and struck her in the head, knocking her to her knees, according to the Clifford Law Offices, which represented Skinger.

“Amy walked through the entryway of the retail mortgage establishment through the only entrance provided by the defendants, and that entrance was completely unsafe; it was not inspected for years and due to the lack of maintenance, this preventable tragedy forever changed her life,” attorney Bradley Cosgrove said in a statement.

The incident aggravated Skinger’s spondylosis, and she eventually required posterior and anterior cervical fusion in her neck, and an intrathecal (placed in spinal cord) pain pump, the attorney said. She had previously been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, and also had a degenerative disease in her neck.

The jury took two hours to reach a verdict late Wednesday, following a two-week trial before DuPage County Judge Kenneth Popejoy in Wheaton.

“We are disappointed with the jury’s finding and are reviewing all of our legal options,” Wells Fargo spokesman Steve Carlson said.

The verdict included $1.25 million for her disability, $1.25 million for pain and suffering, $1 million for emotional distress and more than half a million dollars for medical bills, according to the attorneys. The jury found Wells Fargo, which was responsible for maintenance of the door per its lease, 80 percent at fault; and Cannella NY Square, LLC, the owner of the property, 20 percent at fault.

About a week before the trial, the defendants offered to settle for $125,000, according to the attorneys.

The amount of the verdict set a record in DuPage County for a single plaintiff in a non-medical malpractice case.

“We are satisfied that the jury followed the law and understood the issues so that justice was served. This verdict will provide necessary medical care to ensure that Amy can obtain lifelong treatment,” Cosgrove said.