Local law firm wins $5 million lawsuit for Choctaw County woman

A Choctaw County jury returned a $5 million verdict Dec. 10 for a seriously injured Butler woman. 

Fay Long was represented by Taylor T. Perry Jr. and L. Hunter Compton Jr. of the law firm of Manley, Traeger, Perry, Stapp & Compton of Demopolis and by Stephen Winters of the law firm of Thompson, Thompson & Winters of Butler.

Long was seriously injured when she fell on a defective entry walkway in front of the Food Giant Supermarkets, Inc. Long received a significant brain injury and has suffered serious side effects since the fall. 

“Mrs. Long is a fine lady and the injuries resulting from this unnecessary accident have changed her life forever,” said Perry. “Food Giant knew of this dangerous condition and did nothing to repair it. The jury award in this case is very just and fair.”

The $3 million in compensatory damages is to help Long take care of herself and address her injuries in the future. The $2 million in punitive damages, it is hoped, will insure that Food Giant Supermarkets, Inc. does not continue to ignore dangerous conditions in the Butler location and its other 120 stores,” Winters said. 

“Food Giant wrongfully attacked Mrs. Long and blamed this incident on her, but the jury saw through this wrongful attempt to shift responsibility,”  Perry said. 

“We look forward to defending this case on appeal, and I am confident that the verdict and Judge Robert Montgomery’s rulings will be affirmed,” Compton added. 

“This case is a major step in helping to protect the citizens of Choctaw County from these types of dangerous hidden defects,” Winters said.