On September 30, 2024, Jon Varnica of Vogl Meredith Burke & Streza, LLP achieved a significant victory by way of a Summary Judgment motion in a catastrophic personal injury case involving a log yard. The plaintiff suffered grievous injuries from a falling log while unloading a logging truck at a log yard stanchion. Before entering the subject yard, the plaintiff had signed a release and assumption of risk agreement in favor of the property owner. Vogl Meredith Burke & Streza, LLP represented the property owner and filed a motion for summary judgment based on the release. The plaintiff attempted to develop a gross negligence theory to void the lease. However, the arguments were rejected by the Court who found that there was no admissible evidence to invalidate the release. The Court granted the property owner’s motion for summary judgment.
