Michelle Stewart receives defense verdict for her client

Defense Verdict!

Hinkle Member Michelle Stewart successfully defended her client before a Johnson County jury in the case of National Surety Corporation vs. United Heating & Cooling Inc., with the jury returning a verdict 12-0 for the Defendant on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.

The Plaintiff, an insurance company, sued Ms. Stewart’s client in an effort to recoup amounts paid to its insured after a water supply line failed in their home, causing extensive water damage resulting in damages of approximately $140,000. The Plaintiff claimed the water line, which Defendant installed several years prior to the failure, was improperly installed. Michelle Stewart defended the claim, disputing that Plaintiff had proved that the defendant was at fault and further arguing the line failed prematurely due to a manufacturing defect. After a short deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Ms. Stewart’s client, finding that the Defendant was not at fault for the water loss. The Plaintiff recovered nothing.

Congratulations to Michelle and her team!