Disabled Army Veteran Receives $1.3 Million After Sustaining Injury on Delta Flight

Mrs. Rena Kay Soverns, a disabled female Army veteran, informed a Delta flight attendant that she is disabled and requested to have her carry-on suitcase placed in an overhead bin for her. She told the flight attendant that her disability prevented her from lifting objects above her head. She testified that the female flight attendant initially responded “I don’t have to do that,” but after a second request, the flight attendant told Mrs. Soverns that she should try to put the suitcase in the overhead bin herself, and that she would “help” her. Mrs. Soverns testified that the flight attendant removed her hand from the suitcase after it was lifted up, causing it to fall backwards onto Mrs. Soverns’s head and upper body and knocking her into a nearby seat back. She sustained injury to her spine requiring decompression and fusion surgery at L4-5. She and her family and a friend testified that she has been in daily pain ever since the accident. Plaintiff introduced zero special damages, as the VA and Medicare had covered all medical costs. The jury verdict was based entirely on her pain and suffering. Dragan Dmitrov, MD of Monterey Spine and Joint and Steven Feinberg, MD of Feinberg Med Legal were Plaintiff’s experts. Delta Air Lines admitted negligence but denied all damages, arguing that Mrs. Soverns’s injuries were pre-existing.

Mrs. Soverns, represented by John D. McKay of Park Avenue Law LLC, received a $1,300,000 verdict for the pain and suffering she experienced following this accident.