In this episode, we sit down with Alexandria Avera to break down a high-stakes trip-and-fall trial arising from a dangerous stairwell in Gainesville, Florida, where spoliation became a major battleground in the case. Alexandria walks us through how missing or destroyed evidence can dramatically impact premises liability litigation, the legal consequences of spoliation, and the strategies plaintiff’s lawyers can use when critical surveillance footage, maintenance records, or other evidence disappear before trial.

Speaker Bio

Alex’s practice centers around personal injury and wrongful death litigation. She has assisted in multiple jury trials resulting in seven-figure verdicts, most recently obtaining a 4.4 million dollar verdict as first chair.

Alex is also involved in her local legal community, serving on the Board of the Gainesville Area Trial Lawyers Association and the Gerald T. Bennet Inn of Court. At the state level, Alex is on the Board of Directors for the Florida Justice Association’s Young Lawyer Section. Beyond her professional achievements, Alex also serves as a foster for Alachua County’s animal rescue groups.

Her accomplishments have been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers association, naming Alex as a Top 40 under 40 Civil Plaintiff attorney for the past three years.

In her spare time, Alex enjoys reading, gardening, travelling with her husband, Billy, and spending time with their two dogs.

Host Law Firm Website: https://www.beacon.legal/

In this episode, we sit down with trial lawyer Geordan Logan of Claggett & Sykes to break down one of his first slip-and-fall jury verdicts out of Nevada involving a man who fell next to a fountain inside the MGM Grand.

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Speaker Bio

Geordan Logan grew up in New York City. As the son of a mechanical engineer and a freelance photographer, Geordan came of age in a world rich with both logic and creativity—two traits that serve him well in the practice of law.

Geordan began his employment at Claggett & Sykes Trial Lawyers in January of 2018, and he hit the ground running.

In 2022, Geordan and Sean Claggett were included in Courtroom View Network’s “Top 10 Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdicts of 2022” list for their work on behalf of the plaintiff in Roybal v. Louis Bellomo & SHAC LLC. The client was awarded $14+ million in a zero offer case for injuries sustained after he was hit by an SUV. In 2023, Geordan was part of the trial team which obtained a record $485 million jury verdict against Acadia Healthcare, Inc., for its involvement in placing children in a foster care home with a known sexual predator.

Host Law Firm Website: https://www.beacon.legal/

On November 19, 2014, what began as an ordinary lunch break turned into a life-altering event for John Ratzlaff, a Santa Rosa County employee. After slipping on water from a cracked tile at a Church’s Chicken restaurant, Mr. Ratzlaff struck his head and sustained a traumatic brain injury. The fall led to years of debilitating symptoms — including migraines, cognitive deficits, and memory loss — ultimately ending his career and changing the course of his life.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Crawford of Crawford Law to discuss how he, along with co-counsel Phil Hall, secured a $4 million jury verdict on behalf of Mr. Ratzlaff. The defendant, MSK Enterprises, admitted liability but disputed the extent of damages, arguing the case was worth no more than $250,000. The jury disagreed.

Chris shares his perspective on the challenges of trying a brain injury case, the importance of storytelling in the courtroom, and how he helped the jury see the human toll of a preventable fall.

We hope this episode honors the perseverance of Mr. Ratzlaff and sheds light on the lasting effects of traumatic brain injuries — both in and beyond the courtroom.

Chris Crawford Contact Information

Crawford Law
15 W La Rua St
Pensacola, FL 32501-3933

Office: 850-432-7726

Cell: 850-898-4904

Fax: 850-226-5725

chris@bettercallchris.net

Host Law Firm Website: https://www.beacon.legal/