A property owner in New York City is attempting to circumvent a staggering $35 million judgment awarded to a former JPMorgan banker, who alleges that a shattering glass door caused him permanent brain damage, as revealed in recent court filings.
Attorneys for the Madison Avenue building argue that extensive surveillance footage collected over nine months demonstrates that Meghan Brown’s claims of disability are fraudulent.
Christopher Theobald, representing the property, suggested that such a significant farce has rarely been seen, stating that Brown’s documented behavior contradicts her claims, and is asking the court to dismiss the $35.2 million judgment.
In response, Brown’s lawyer, Tom Moore, dismissed this effort as “absolutely hopeless,” mentioning that while hope is everlasting, it may soon fade for the defendant.
In March 2024, a jury held the owner of 271 Madison Avenue accountable for a troubling incident from 2015 when Brown, then 27, allegedly was injured while attempting to pass through a seven-and-a-half-foot-tall lobby door.
Currently operating a gelato shop in Naples, Florida, Brown testified that the injury ultimately led to her dismissal from her analyst role and severely impacted her daily functioning.
During a three-week trial in Manhattan Supreme Court, Brown expressed difficulties with trust in her mental faculties.
The jury unanimously found in her favor, indicating that the negligence of the building’s owner significantly contributed to her injuries.
The building’s owners subsequently appealed the decision, employing private investigators to observe Brown in Florida. The footage reportedly showcased her participating in activities she previously claimed were beyond her capabilities, such as dodging traffic, working long hours at her gelato shop, and even texting while riding a tricycle without a helmet.
One clip depicted her working late at a warehouse, which contradicted her earlier testimony about needing frequent breaks due to exhaustion and pain.
Investigators noted that Brown managed her gelato business from start to finish, handling events single-handedly, including pushing a heavy cart at golf courses.
During the trial, Brown declared she had a team to assist her, which, according to the building’s lawyers, undermines her claims of being an incapacitated individual operating a “part-time gelato business.”
The lawyers articulated that this evidence should dispel the notion that she is merely involved in a minor operation.
However, Brown’s legal team contended that it was evident some of her suffering was not continuous, noting she appeared in court unassisted.
Moore emphasized that even while walking to the court daily, Brown showed no signs of requiring assistance, and criticized the overall portrayal of her as lacking any realistic basis.
He lauded her determination, arguing that she is doing her best while being wrongly accused of managing a simple gelato stand. He questioned if she should instead accept welfare as a solution.
Additionally, the building’s attorneys accused Brown of misrepresenting the reason for her termination from JPMorgan, asserting it was unrelated to her alleged brain injury but rather a performance issue.
They referred to statements made in a separate arbitration case where Brown claimed retaliation for a pay dispute, labeling this contradictory testimony as perjury and the jury’s decision a fraudulently secured “jackpot.”
Moore disputed this, insisting that her termination stemmed from a “policy dispute” and clarified that none of the jury’s award reflected future income loss.
He concluded poignantly, stating, “This is a shattered life. We will never return to our previous state before 2015.”
