Legal Question in Personal Injury in Massachusetts

I AM A 42 YEAR OLD WHO SUFFERED A STROKE 6 WEEKS AGO WHILE REFEREEING A HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER GAME. I HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSITAL EVER SINCE. MY PRESSURE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM THAT DAY SPIKED TO 250/130. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AN ENERGY DRINK I TOOKWAS THE STRAW THAT CAUSEDMY BLOOD PRESSURE TO SPIKE AND CAUSE MY STROKE AND BRAIN TO BLEED.

I LOST THE USE OF MY RIGHT ARM AND LEG INITIALLY BUT THROUGH THERAPY HAVE GOTTEN 90% BACK AND CAN WALK WITH A CANE. I STILL FACE 3 MONTHS OF REHAB WHEN I GET OUT NEXT WEEK.

I AND MY FAMILY ARE OUT A LOT OF INCOME DUE TO MY STROKE. THE GOOD THING I AHAVE FULL PAY FROM MY REGULAR JOB DUE TO MY SICK LEAVE COVERAGE BUT I HAVE ALSO REFEREEED HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL AND SOCCER FOR 20+ YEARS AND HAVE AVERAGED ABOUT $10,000 in extra income for my FAMILY EACH TEAR THAT I WILLno longer make this year .

I AM ALSO OUT SEVERAL MORE THOUSAND FOR HANDICAPPING MY HOUSE FOR WHEN I COME HOME AND EXPECTED COSTS FOR MY OUTPatient therapy.

I SHOULD OF NEVER TAKEN THAT ENERGY DRINK NOW THAT I READ THE SIDE EFFECTS ETC AND FELT THE NEED TO CONTACT THE COMPANY

I CONTACTED THE COMPANYAND GAVE THE FULL STORY AND HOW THE COMPANY IS CAUSING ME TO LOSE $9,0000 OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS DUE TO THEIR PRODUCT. AMAZINGLY THE COMPANY PRESIDENT DID RESPOND AND SAID THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP OUT WITH MY LOSSES ETC SINCE I SAID I PREFERRED TO NOT GO THE LEGAL ROUTE

THE NUMBNESS I STIILL FEEL IN MY RIGHT LEG DUE TO THE STROKE MAY NEVE GO AWAY WHICH MEANS I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO REFEREEING EVER AGAIN

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS

1 SHOULD I ACCEPT THE 9K IF THE COMPANY OFFERS IT OR DO YOU THINK I HAVE ACASE TO PURSUE FOR A LARGER AMOUNT SINCE IF I CANNOT REFEREE AGAIN I STAND TO LOSE $100,000 IN REFEREE INCOME OR SO OVER THE NEXT DECADE

THANKS


Asked on 11/04/12, 3:46 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Vaughn-Martel Charles River Law Partners, LLC

I'm sorry you are going through this.

There are known problems with these drinks, including injury and death, and so I am not terribly surprised that the company has responded to you.

I would need to know more about the specific product and your medical history, but if a doctor can say with medical certainty that the energy drink that you consumed caused your spike in blood pressure and stroke, then I think you should absolutely seek legal counsel.

If the doctor does not know why you experienced this medical event, or if there is some other cause, you probably should still speak with an attorney, but your case may not be as strong.

My sense is that you very well may have a case larger than $9,000.00, but that much more information is needed.

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Answered on 11/05/12, 9:05 am


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