How much would you want if you fell in a parking lot at Target? $250,000? $1million? What about $11million? Olga Mun of Florida was awarded $11 million in late 2025 after she tripped and fell at a Target store parking lot in Winter Garden in December 2019.
Mun was carrying her daughter in Target’s parking lot. She was navigating between parked cars and puddles when she tripped and fell on an uneven surface. The uneven surface was allegedly a violation of several building codes. Mun twisted her ankle and fractured her right leg, leading to a handful of procedures. Mun landed in a “pretzel position” in an effort to catch her balance to avoid dropping her child.
Mun sued Target and Site Centers Corp, the owner of the shopping center, for their alleged negligence and failure to properly maintain the parking lot. Mun’s attorneys stated she turned down a pre-trial settlement offer of $250,000 prior to the verdict from the Orange County jury. Following the trial, the jury found Target was 90% at fault and awarded her $11.4 million.
Considering All Aspects of Tort Reform
These verdicts often bring out campaigns for “tort reform.” Tort reform refers to proposals in the civil legal system that attempt to reduce the ability of plaintiffs to bring lawsuits and/or to reduce the amount of money that can be recovered from a lawsuit.
Tort reforms are periodically raised every few decades in the United States following “nuclear” jury verdicts – verdicts that are extraordinarily high, exceeding what most experts would believe a jury would award. The most infamous lawsuit that led to a push for tort reform was the hot coffee case in the 1990s. Proposed reforms have included eliminating interest, limiting punitive damages and/or non-economic damages, limiting venues, and other potential changes.
It is odd, though, that the push is rarely to expand the opportunities or rights of plaintiffs who are injured in accidents. There are many factors that would justify awarding more “nuclear” verdicts. First, inflation in medical bills would require greater verdicts to pay for such bills. If Mun had multiple surgeries and/or an extended hospital stay, her medical expenses could be significant. Likewise, salaries, childcare, and other expenses have gone up. If Mun had significant lost wages or loss of ability to care for her daughter due to her injuries, those expenses would contribute to the verdict.
The threat of nuclear verdicts would also compel companies to actually make changes to ensure safety. A greater number of nuclear verdicts would encourage companies to actually care about how they conduct themselves, rather than write a check or look to their insurance company to pay out. The cost of regular maintenance is often less than the cost of medical treatment.
Although there are cases where a plaintiff may exaggerate or even fabricate their injuries, defense lawyers are capable of determining whether a plaintiff is being less than honest about their damages. Nor should dishonest plaintiffs relieve a company’s responsibility to ensure the safety of others.
Do I Need the Help of a Personal Injury Attorney?
If you have sustained a personal injury through the unlawful act of another, then you should contact a personal injury attorney. A skilled personal injury lawyer near you can review the facts of your case, go over your rights and options, and represent you at hearings and in court.
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