Blanchard v. TownPlace Suites by Marriott

Case Background

Anastasia Blanchard filed a premises liability lawsuit against TownPlace Suites by Marriott after a trip and fall on the hotel premises caused serious injuries. The lawsuit was filed in Indiana Superior Court, Allen County. Judge David J. Avery presided over this lawsuit. [Case number: 02D09-2211-CT-6610]

Cause

In August 2022, Anastasia Blanchard, a New York resident, traveled to Fort Wayne for her sister’s funeral. She stayed at the TownPlace Suites by Marriott, operated by HRC Hotels, LLC, on Ice Way.

On the morning of August 18, 2022, Blanchard was walking through the hotel parking lot when she allegedly caught her foot on a raised or broken section of concrete. She tripped, fell, and suffered serious injuries.

Injury

Blanchard claimed she suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured left wrist, a broken jaw, a damaged tooth, and a mild traumatic brain injury. She also sustained several facial fractures.

She reported nerve damage in her face, which left her with ongoing numbness. Additionally, she developed double vision as a result of the facial fractures.

To treat her injuries, Blanchard underwent surgery to repair the facial fractures with internal fixation.

Damages

Blanchard’s medical expenses reached $72,633. However, $52,395 was written off, leaving her responsible for a remaining balance of $20,238.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Anastasia Blanchard
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Brandon A. Yosha | Alexander C. Trueblood | Bryan C. Tisch | Stanley A. Levine
    • Experts for Plaintiff(s): Jeffrey Gross | Sara Ford | Dr. Raul Guevara
  • Defendant(s): TownPlace Suites by Marriott

Claims

Blanchard sued TownPlace Suites, alleging it failed to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition.

Defense

TownPlace Suites defended itself against Blanchard’s claims and denied responsibility. The hotel also challenged the nature, extent, and cause of Blanchard’s injuries. Additionally, it argued that Blanchard’s own actions contributed to the incident.

Expert Testimony

Blanchard’s expert on hotel loss prevention was Jeffrey Gross from Powder Springs, Georgia. Gross believed TownPlace Suites violated its own safety standards and general hotel industry guidelines.

Blanchard’s other experts included Sara Ford from Vocational Economics in Louisville, Kentucky, and Dr. Raul Guevara, a neuro-ophthalmologist from Merrillville, Indiana.

The defense’s experts included Jeffrey Schroeder, an engineer from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Dr. Bruce Growick, a vocational rehabilitation specialist from Columbus, Ohio, and Alex Constable, a damages valuation expert from Hudson, Ohio.

Schroeder argued that the hotel’s parking lot condition posed no hazard and complied with building codes. Growick and Constable agreed that Blanchard’s injuries would likely have minimal impact on her earning capacity.

Jury Verdict

The trip and fall lawsuit was tried over four days in Fort Wayne. On August 16, 2024, after deliberating for nearly five hours, the jury returned a verdict. It assigned 32% of the fault to TownPlace Suites and 68% to Blanchard. Based on this allocation of fault, the court issued a defense judgment.

Court Documents:

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