Other Cases
- Lawsuit Brings About National Changes in the Sport of Rowing
In 2005, John Steve Catilo, a brilliant University of Virginia student studying pre-med, came home to volunteer for the summer on the Potomac River teaching children how to row crew. Unfortunately, due to a lax safety environment fostered by a local rowing group and the national U.S. Rowing Association, when John Steve fell into the Potomac River while coaching, he lacked the basic safety devices needed to save his life. Specifically, he was not required to wear a life jacket and his boat did not have a safety kill switch to stop the engine when he fell in. His family wanted to ensure that this preventable tragedy never happened to any family again. Thus, through a lawsuit that we brought on their behalf, the Catilos were able to bring about national safety changes in the sport of rowing that will contribute to the safety of all who enjoy this wonderful sport. They also received a confidential monetary settlement. For additional details on this case, please see the following:
- $1 million settlement in case involving improper lighting and handrails on a D.C. rental property resulting in a serious fall and head injury
- $500,000 settlement for inadequate security in a D.C. apartment
- Virginia Supreme Court reverses Trial Court, Orders New Trial for Severely Injured Man
In 2005, a client confronted Mr. Perry with a problem. He had been severely injured in an accident at a strip mall in Fairfax, Virginia. As a result, he had filed suit against the mall owner and although his attorney had done an excellent job at trial, the jury returned a verdict for the mall owner.
Mr. Perry's client believed that the jury had been unfairly swayed by testimony that the trial judge allowed, over objection, regarding the client's past struggles with alcohol, even though it had nothing to do with the accident. Mr. Perry faced an uphill battle because the Virginia Supreme Court accepts only about 20% of all civil cases that are appealed to it. But after researching the issue, and determining that Virginia law needed clarification, he took up his client's case and appealed it to the Supreme Court.
The court accepted the case and Mr. Perry argued that the trial court had erred by allowing this evidence because it raised an improper inference that alcohol had something to do with the client's accident while there was no evidence to support such a finding. The Supreme Court agreed, reversing and remanding the case for a new trial.
- Confidential settlement obtained in sexual harassment case
Mr. Perry represented his client against a prominent area company in a sexual harassment case. He filed the case in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, known as the Rocket Docket because cases move so quickly there.
After conducting exhaustive discovery of many of the company's top employees, he obtained a confidential settlement on behalf of his client, which, although not a replacement for the loss of dignity that she suffered, will allow her to move on from these unfortunate events with her head held high. - Confidential settlement in case believed to be the first under D.C. law for political discrimination
The District of Columbia's Human Rights Act (DCHRA) makes many forms of discrimination by an employer illegal, including political discrimination. Thus, when Mr. Perry's client came to him and complained that he had been terminated based on his political affiliation, Mr. Perry's interest was piqued. When he researched the issue, however, Mr. Perry could find no reported cases in the District of Columbia as to this area of the law. Seizing an opportunity to make law and help his client, Mr. Perry brought an action against his client's former employer alleging political affiliation discrimination under the DCHRA.
Several months after conducting exhaustive discovery on the issue, Mr. Perry resolved the case for his client. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the District of Columbia.
