$7 Million
In November 2019, plaintiff began to use an inversion table in Port Allen location of a 24-hour-fitness franchise to which he belonged. The table is designed to stretch the spine and relieve pressure on the central nervous system by inverting the user at various angles. While plaintiff was using the table, a critical part of it (the angle adjustment beam) broke, causing plaintiff unexpectedly to fully invert. He was thrown out of the table and fell directly onto his head. He suffered a fractured neck in the incident, underwent a five-level spinal infusion, and has paraplegia and permanent disability. The equipment was used before the franchise owner/operator purchased it. According to the franchiser, purchase of used equipment was a direct violation of the franchise agreement. The owner/operator confessed judgement for $7 million with coverage o $1.2 million.