Arman Karapetyan, et al. vs. Talar Boyajian

Case Background

Plaintiffs Arman Karapetyan and Daniela Karapetyan (“Plaintiffs”) filed a premises liability case against Talar Boyajian and Josef Shaverdi (“Defendants”) after Arman was injured due to a damaged brick porch. The case was filed in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County. Judges Gregory W. Alarcon, Lisa R. Jaskol, and Daniel M. Crowley presided over this case. [Case Number: 20STCV38084]

Cause

On May 24, 2019, Arman Karapetyan was injured at a property on Hawthorne Street in Glendale, California. He stepped on a damaged brick on the front porch stairs, which then gave way. As a result, he fell down the stairs and lost consciousness.

The Plaintiffs argued that the defective stairs were a substantial factor in causing their injuries and damages.

Damages

As a result of the incident, the Plaintiffs experienced significant economic and non-economic damages. These included past and future medical expenses, lost income, physical pain, mental suffering, and reduced enjoyment of life. Additionally, they faced disfigurement, anxiety, and emotional distress. Daniela, the Plaintiff’s wife, also filed a claim for loss of consortium.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Arman Karapetyan | Daniela Karapetyan
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Garri Shahinyan | Arutyun Art Topchyan
  • Defendant(s):  Josef Shaverdi | Talar Boyajian
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): Raquel Vallejo | Michelle Zuniga | Marcella I. Wilson

Claims

Negligence Claim
The Defendants negligently owned, managed, maintained, and operated the premises. Their actions or lack of proper care created unsafe conditions that directly contributed to the Plaintiff’s injuries.

Willful Failure to Warn
The Defendants knowingly failed to address or warn about dangerous conditions, structures, or activities on the property. This willful negligence endangered those on the premises, including the Plaintiff.

Defense

Both Defendants asserted affirmative defenses. Defendants denied all allegations and claimed Plaintiffs caused or contributed to their injuries through negligence, assumption of risk, or failure to mitigate damages.

On July 13, 2022, a summary judgment was granted in favor of Defendant Talar Boyajian and he was dismissed from this premises liability case.

Jury Verdict

On January 19, 2024, the 12-member jury returned a defense verdict after determining that Josef Shaverdi was not negligent. On July 09, 2024, Honorable Gregory W. Alarcon passed a judgment consistent with the verdict.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com