Local News Blog | Harrisburg, PA

PA Jury Awards Over $1 Million Verdict In UIM Lawsuit

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 27, 2022 in News

In a recent Pennsylvania injury case, a federal jury awarded a verdict of more than $1 million to the injured plaintiff of an underinsured motorist claim. The victim sought compensation for the neck, back and shoulder injuries sustained in a collision caused by the negligence of the named defendant. The lawyer for the plaintiff, Schmidt […]

Five Stars for Schmidt Kramer Attorney Jessica Mitchell

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 26, 2022 in General

Schmidt Kramer is pleased to share yet another client’s five-star review of a member of our legal team. The client, Charmain, has nothing but praise for Jessica Mitchell, who represented her in a recent claim. If you were injured by another’s negligence, you may benefit from seeking legal help. Contact our firm for a free […]

What Are the Risks of Handling an Auto Accident Claim by Yourself?

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 24, 2022 in Car Accidents

Many car crash victims decide not to call an attorney to help them seek compensation for the damages they suffered. There are a variety of reasons why crash victims make this decision, but they may not be aware of the risks of going it alone. Our experienced attorneys discuss these risks below. While it is […]

Could I Be Held Liable if One of My Parents Causes a Car Crash?

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 20, 2022 in Car Accidents

While many elderly drivers are reluctant to stop getting behind the wheel, it is often for the best. Sometimes older drivers cannot be counted on to operate their vehicles safely. Their reaction time and even ability to recognize situations with a high risk for a crash may be significantly impaired. Many times, elderly parents and […]

Schmidt Kramer Law Firm Hosts Golf Tournament to Raise Funds for UCP Central PA

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 18, 2022 in News

On Monday, our firm hosted the 35th UCP/SchmidtKramer Golf Tournament to raise money for UCP of Central PA. This is an organization dedicated to helping people who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and other types of disabilities. All three of our partners hosted the tournament: Chuck Schmidt, Gerry Kramer and Scott Cooper. Attorneys Dennis […]

What Are the Differences Between Truck Accident Claims and Car Accident Claims?

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 13, 2022 in Car Accidents

There are many reasons why truck accidents and car accidents are not the same. The most obvious reason is that commercial trucks are significantly larger than passenger vehicles, which means passenger vehicles are more likely to sustain serious or catastrophic damage in the collision. However, the differences do not end there. Liability for car vs. […]

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Eligible for Federal Disability Benefits?

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 10, 2022 in Social Security Disability

Are you or a loved one suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome? This condition can make it extremely difficult to hold down a job and engage in other activities. Prolonged feelings of exhaustion can affect you mentally as well as physically, making it hard to concentrate and remember things. You may also experience chronic pain and […]

Scott Cooper Participates in Medical Liability Panel at Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 10, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Schmidt Kramer partner Scott Cooper participated in a medical liability panel at the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society annual meeting on Friday. The panel was composed of Widener University Commonwealth law school students and medical students from the Penn State College of Medicine. They debated the potential implications of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision about changing venue […]

Partner Scott Cooper Included in 2022 Pennsylvania Fifty Over 50 List

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on October 03, 2022 in News

Our law firm is pleased to announce partner Scott Cooper has been included in City & State Pennsylvania’s Fifty Over 50 list for 2022. Those who made this list are considered as the most influential difference makers in Pennsylvania. This year, nearly 200 people sent in recommendations for Fifty Over 50. That means the list […]

How a Personal Injury Could Affect Your Ability to do Your Job

Posted on behalf of Schmidt Kramer on September 29, 2022 in Personal Injury

Personal injuries from car crashes, slip and fall accidents, or work accidents can cause a wide variety of physical ailments that could make it harder to do your job. This is particularly true for physically demanding work, such jobs in construction or a factory or warehouse. Jobs that require a lot of physical strength, including […]

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$10,043,952.13 Personal Injury
Schmidt Kramer, P.C.partner Gerard C. Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.
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$4,034,000.00 Personal Injury
Yesterday a Judge in Union County (Lewisburg, PA) awarded a couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting.You might ask yourself, how does a turkey hunting accident end up with that type of verdict? In order to understand the verdict you would have to know our clients. They are good people who had their life wrecked. Plus, you would have to know the defendant, who should not have been hunting with a gun because he was prohibited after a previous criminal conviction.It is a good verdict, because the Judge was able to do two things with his decision. First, he communicated to two very good people that their losses were something that those of us on the outside could appreciate and value. Mike Hobbins (our client) is a 51 year old guy who lost his sight because a convicted felon --who should not have even possessed a gun-- went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger. The Judge accepted the financial loss Mr. Hobbins' suffered, but listened closely to the evidence of less tangible losses. When Mike broke down on the stand, because his daughter would end up walking him down the aisle at her wedding, as opposed to how it was supposed to go, the Judge was listening. When Mike could not keep it together, because of how emasculating it was for him not to be able to provide financially for his family, the Judge was listening. It was facts like these that the Judge cited to support the $2,000,000 award for non-economic damages. Second, the Judge wanted to send a message. Union County is a hunting county. Many of the residents hunt there, and people from outside the area come to Union County to hunt. It was my impression, from the Judge's statements as he rendered his decision, that he wanted to send a message to the people in Union County to protect them in their sport. The rules in place to restrict people convicted of crimes not to have a gun are not to be broken. Hunting is serious and you have to identify your target before you shoot. When you turn your back on the rules that are set to provide safety in a sport, you risk being an example. Here, the $1,000,000 punitive damage award sends that message loud and clear.When it really comes down to brass tacks, the right action was taken against a Defendant who may never truly appreciate what kind of impact his reckless choices caused.At Schmidt Kramer, we are injury lawyers. That means we work with people who were hurt in car accidents, who were hurt by the neglect of nursing homes, or those that were seriously injured because of the reckless, thoughtless acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. While the verdict yesterday is not one that is representative of every case we do, it does show that serious and dedicated representation can bring good results.Joe ChapmanJanuary 18, 2013
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$2,200,000.00 Auto Accidents
On Monday, January 6, 2014, Schmidt Kramer accident lawyer Scott Cooper obtained a verdict on behalf of his client who is the widow of a man who died in a fiery crash on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County. The awarded verdict of $2.2 million was in a nonjury proceeding before a federal judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. That verdict includes $100,000 in punitive damages assessed against the owner of the trucking company.Kamilah Claxton won summary judgment in November after the defendants, Sukhwinder Singh and the trucking company for which he worked, failed to file a brief in opposition to Claxton's motion, which was made in September. The verdict in Claxton v. Singh was issued after the court held a non-jury assessment of damages earlier this month."Mr. Sukhchan Singh, the employer, is liable on the basis of respondent superior, but was also grossly negligent in failing to maintain his vehicle in compliance with state and federal law, particularly with regard to having required safety inspections and correcting defects in its braking equipment," said U.S. District Judge William W. Caldwell of the Middle District of Pennsylvania in his opinion accompanying the verdict."He was also grossly negligent in entrusting his vehicle to Sukhwinder Singh, an inexperienced truck driver who had failed the written test and driving test multiple times before finally earning his commercial driving license," Caldwell said.
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$1,200,000.00 Personal Injury
A Dauphin County jury has awarded a $1.2 million verdict to the parents of a 5-year-old who had an anoxic brain injury and stopped breathing after he had a tonsillectomy.2012-06-26 10:00:00 AMDate of Verdict: June 19. 2012Court and Case No.: C.P. Dauphin County No. 2009-CV-14003-MMJudge: Scott EvansType of Action: Medical malpracticeInjuries: Anoxic brain injuryPlaintiffs Counsel: Terry S. Hyman, Schmidt Kramer, HarrisburgPlaintiffs Experts: Dr. Anna H. Messner, liability; Lucille Packer, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Palo Alto, Calif.; Terry P. Leslie, vocations and earning capacity, Lancaster; Dr. Hilary B. Berlin, pediatric psychiatry, Great Neck, N.Y.Defense Counsel: Andrew H. Foulkrod, Darlene K. King, Foulkrod Ellis, Camp Hill, PADefense Experts: James C. Reilly, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Wilmington, DEComment: A Dauphin County jury has awarded a $1.2 million verdict to the parents of a 5-year-old who had an anoxic brain injury and stopped breathing after he had a tonsillectomy.The entire verdict came against Dr. Andrew M. Shapiro, the doctor who plaintiffs Reginald Graham and Tykeisha Metz alleged chose to have the boy monitored at a pediatric ward. The plaintiffs argued Shapiro failed to tell nurses caring for the baby about, and how to care for, the boy's enhanced risk for respiratory failure.The jury came back on June 19 and awarded Reginald Graham and Tykeisha Mets $500,000 in non-economic damages and $686,170 in loss of future earning capacity, according to the plaintiffs counsel.According to the statement, the baby's mother brought him to Shapiro because she was "'afraid that he might stop breathing during his sleep,'" the plaintiffs' pretrial statement said. Shapiro performed a sleep study and observed the baby's Apnea Hypopnea Index to be 43 — four times higher than what's considered severe. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were performed.According to the plaintiffs, the baby's sleep study results put him at an increased risk for post-operative respiratory complications. Despite this, they argued in the statement, Shapiro ordered the pediatric nurses at the Harrisburg Hospital general pediatric ward to observe the boy as they would any other patients — about once every four hours.The pretrial statement said that one in four children who have an AHI in the 40s and oxygen desaturation below 80 have some type of respiratory problem. The younger the child, the greater the risk of a respiratory problem, the statement said.According to the statement, Shapiro took off the child's pulse oximeter, the finger-mounted device used to measure blood oxygen, and ordered a heart and respiratory rate monitor. The child was 11 months old at the time.The plaintiffs pled that the baby was last seen at 4 a.m. There was no record of his oxygen saturation for the next hour and 45 minutes. He stopped breathing a 6:40 a.m., and his brain was without oxygen long enough to cause demonstrable injury on an MRI."Immediately prior to his surgery, [the child] was a normal child, who could say mama, eat finger foods, and was just on the verge of walking," the statement said. "After his code, [he] was like a newborn. He could not lift his head or sit up. He could not talk. He could not move."In his pretrial statement, Shapiro argued that he recognized the child's pre-operative sleep study showed he was driven to breath by decreased blood oxygen saturation, which he said was typical in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.He argued the American Academy of Otolaryngology dictates that admission to the intensive care unit is not the standard of care. In the statement, he said nurses did not observe signs of respiratory distress. No alarms sounded until the child arrested, the statement said.He said the baby likely arrested as a result of hypoglycemia and/or an acute aspiration, which he argued would not have been identified by blood oxygen saturation.— Ben Present, of the Law Weekly
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$1,024,040.80 Auto Accidents
Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death case on behalf of the widow of a police office who was killed in a car accident in the line of duty for $1,024,040.80. The claim against the other driver was amicably resolved before suit was filed for the entire available policy limits for the other driver. The case took place in Adams County, PA.
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Testimonials

After being in an automobile accident , Scott Cooper came highly recommended to me. I found Scott and his team very kind and considerate. Scott took time to explain the whole process to me and got me a settlement in a timely manner. I couldn't ask for best representation.
Ruthie Lupfer
Great Experience and Great results.. I recommend!!
Aaron Marquis
Scott Cooper and Jessica Vizcaino did great. They had good communication, follow-up and fought for me. They handled my case professionally and swiftly, especially with me being out of state. 5 stars all the way and I am glad that they represented me.
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