08/27/2026
Having defended slip-and-fall cases for years before representing injured plaintiffs, I’ve seen this lifecycle from both sides for a long time. And these cases tend to follow a remarkably similar path.
Preserve the evidence. Investigate the claim. File suit. Get the corporate documents. Take the depositions.
Then comes the moment that can change everything: Summary judgment.
Can the corporation get the case dismissed before a jury ever hears it? If the judge says no, the complexion of the case changes quickly.
I sometimes joke that the first real settlement demand in a premises case isn’t the one the plaintiff sends. It’s the judge’s denial of summary judgment. Because now everyone knows a jury may actually decide the case.
And that’s when the real settlement discussions begin.
