Saalfield Shad, P.A. recognizes Susan Bird and Clemente Inclan for obtaining a defense verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit tried in the Circuit Court in and for Escambia County, Florida.
The case involved an 87-year-old resident who passed away following a choking incident at the facility. Plaintiff’s counsel — a firm that specializes in nursing home litigation — alleged that the facility failed to properly assess and monitor the resident over the course of her two-month stay and that negligent care caused her to aspirate food which lead to an anoxic brain injury that resulted in her death. Prior to trial, plaintiff’s counsel demanded $4 million to resolve the case and indicated an intention to ask the jury for $40 million in damages — a figure consistent with the firm’s track record, having secured a $6 million verdict against another Pensacola-area nursing home just one month before this trial.
Susan Bird led the defense on behalf of Saalfield Shad, P.A. Through thorough investigation and creative strategy grounded in the actual facts and circumstances of the case, Susan demonstrated that her client, the Defendant, had provided excellent care to the resident during her stay and that the evidence did not support the plaintiff’s theory of liability. The jury agreed, returning a complete defense verdict.
Following trial, the jury foreperson reached out to commend the defense team for presenting the full picture of the case and for the professionalism shown to all parties throughout the proceedings.
This result is a reminder of why rigorous, day-to-day case preparation matters. We congratulate Susan Bird and Clemente Inclan on this hard-fought victory and thank the entire Saalfield Shad team for their continued dedication to our clients.