Walmart Ordered to Pay $1.6m to Rockland Man for Damages Caused by Faulty Bike Brakes

by M.C. Millman

Walmart in Suffern was ordered to pay $1.6 to a Rockland man due to injuries he suffered from testing a bike at the store on August 23, 2016.

On August 5 of this year, a U.S. District Court jury in White Plains awarded a $3.1 million verdict to South Nyack resident Cosmo Campodonico. Subsequently, the amount awarded was reduced after finding Walmart 49% liable and Campodonico 51% responsible for the accident.

The $1,79,340 judgment against Walmart was issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. The total takes into account past damages, future pain, and suffering, attorneys fees, litigation costs, as well as interest for 39 days following the jury verdict.

Walmart Stores was ordered to use $634,000 of the judgment to purchase a 10-year insurance annuity to pay Campodonico $61,067 annually plus yearly increases of 4%.

Campodonico was injured after he was permitted to test-drive a bicycle in Walmart's garden center. The bike's brakes failed, and he crashed into a display of bikes injuring his right shoulder when he fell. Accusing Walmart of negligence in his 2018 lawsuit, Campodonico claimed the bike was improperly assembled and that no warnings were posted.

Campodonico required four surgeries after the accident, including removing part of his collarbone. He sufferers from recurring dislocations. His right shoulder was replaced, and then his shoulder became infected, requiring IV antibiotic therapy, which took place in the hospital, where he had to stay for over a month. He still has problems using his right arm and shoulder and claimed emotional and psychological distress due to fears of losing the use of his right arm.