A woman secured a multi-million dollar settlement after being injured by a falling canopy at her son’s wedding. Janet Davis suffered permanent injuries when an 87-pound chuppah, a traditional Jewish wedding canopy, collapsed and struck her neck and back during the 2021 event. The accident left her with a concussion, tinnitus from inner ear damage, and spinal injuries.
The incident occurred just after the “breaking of the glass” ceremony, when Davis approached her son and daughter-in-law to congratulate them. Her lawyer, Marc McCallister, speculated that someone may have accidentally knocked the chuppah, causing it to fall.
Davis, 55, later sued the wedding venue, Ateres Ayala, Luxe Catering, and the chuppah’s designer, Jose Vargas Ortega. Last month, she reached a $2.3 million settlement. Ateres Ayala and Luxe Catering were found negligent for failing to secure the structure, with the venue contributing $550,000, Ortega paying $10,000, and Luxe Catering covering the remaining $1.74 million.
The lawsuit, representing both Janet and her husband Edward Davis, argued that the wedding should have been a joyous occasion but instead turned into a tragic and preventable event due to negligence. Their attorney, Timothy Cavanagh, noted they were ready to present video evidence and testimony showing that the collapse could have been avoided if the chuppah had been properly secured.
Davis’ medical expenses totaled $325,000, and her injuries were declared permanent. Ortega’s lawyer, Peter Stamatis, expressed relief that the case had been settled, calling the event an unfortunate incident. The judge who mediated the case, William Gomolinski, passed away in September, shortly after the agreement was reached, with Stamatis noting it had been a privilege to work with him.