What Our Clients Say

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Why Clients Choose Us

You went above and beyond the call of duty for an attorney.
I like to deal with people who are honest and who keep their word. You are that kind of straight shooter.
I would recommend Mr. Shapiro and his staff to other persons who have a personal injury and need help with their situation as I did.
I asked a friend of mine...what attorney would he use [to handle a mesothelioma case] and he immediately said Rick Shapiro. He called Rick on his cell phone and explained our situation and handed me the phone. That connection to the law firm of Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis and Appleton began a relationship of trust and a sense of confidence that we had not experienced before. It was apparent to us that we had the right team fighting for our father.
She returned my calls promptly and everyone at the office was courteous and helpful.
I was really happy with the work that John Cooper did on my auto accident case. We went to mediation and got the case resolved for a good amount which will let me do things to help my financial future like buying a house.

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This is a list of our firm's case results. We can't guarantee you'll receive the same results, but we can guarantee we'll work tirelessly on your behalf and try to obtain the jury verdict/settlement you deserve.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

Locomotive Engineer with Shoulder and Knee Injuries

COURT/DATE: Settled a few days before court-ordered mediation. HSCL STAFF: Richard N. Shapiro and other firm attorney, Charles Cunningham, Donald Case, Luther Yopp, Investigators Jackie Tilton, Paralegal Mary Wareing, Legal Assistant WHAT HAPPENED: The plaintiff, B.J., age 47, was a locomotive engineer mounting a locomotive on July 28, 2001. While B.J. was mounting the locomotive vertical stairwell, one of the vertical hand holds suddenly broke away from the locomotive, sending him sprawling backwards where he injured his knee and shoulder. Not only was one shoulder injured by impact with the ground, but the other shoulder was injured when B. J. suddenly was jerked, and had to free his hand hold. B.J. received emergency treatment and later underwent arthroscopic surgery on both his right shoulder and his left knee. Further, B.J.. had a long history of left shoulder problems, including previous hardware in his left shoulder, causing his orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. McKain, to provide the opinion that plaintiff would ultimately need a left shoulder arthroplasty (replacement). Later, the orthopaedist and the family physician, gave opinions that plaintiff could not return to work as a locomotive engineer, and could handle only occasional ten pounds pushing and pulling. B.J. had earned about $60,000.00 a year, exclusive of annual fringe benefits and had been employed with the railroad for over 25 years. B.J. asserted wage loss till age 65, or theoretically till age 70. Plaintiff retained a vocational expert who provided the opinion that in one vocational scenario, the plaintiff could not earn income, and in another potential scenario, the plaintiff might be able to earn $14,000 per year. B.J. obtained a consultative report from a former FRA official that the failure of the vertical hand hold to retain the plaintiff while mounting the engine constituted a violation of the federal Safety Appliance Act as well as the Locomotive Inspection Acts. Plaintiff conducted a corporate representative deposition of a railroad supervisor familiar with the repairs done to the locomotive post-incident. Admissions were obtained that a major part of the crack in the hand rail was rusty and likely pre-existing the injury incident.

Awarded: Several days before court-ordered mediation, the parties arrived at a settlement of $950,000.00.

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Phone: (757)-460-7776
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Offices

Main VA Office
1294 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: (757)-460-7776
Fax: (757)-460-3428
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

Hampton-Peninsula Area Office
Mill Point Center
101 Eaton Street
Hampton, Virginia 23669
Phone: (757)-788-8162

North Carolina Office
101 E. Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

Case Results

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT, AND THE VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS MENTIONED ON THIS WEBSITE, WHILE ACCURATE, DO NOT REPRESENT WHAT WE MAY OBTAIN FOR YOU IN YOUR CASE.