A freak accident at her son’s wedding in Illinois left the groom’s mother with permanent injuries and a staggering $2.3 million.
On what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, Janet Davis, 55, suffered injuries to her spine and inner ear after a chuppah, a wedding canopy used in Jewish wedding ceremonies, fell on her. her during her son’s wedding in 2021.
Davis was reportedly standing directly under the chuppah when the approximately 87-pound structure collapsed, striking her in the neck and back.
The ceremonial structure is said to have fallen after wedding guests approached the canopy to congratulate the newlywed couple after the couple performed the customary glass-breaking ceremony.
On what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, Janet Davis, 55, suffered injuries to her spine and inner ear after a chuppah fell on her during her son’s wedding in 2021. In the photo: a couple standing under a chuppah.
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of Davis and her husband, Edward, against Skokie-based banquet hall Ateres Ayala (pictured) and its parent company, Luxe Catering LLC, as well as the manufacturer of the unstable cover , José Vargas Ortega. , after the unexpected incident
The 55-year-old incurred a whopping $325,000 in medical bills after the tragic accident, which included treatment for a concussion, tinnitus and spinal surgery.
Davis’ injuries to his inner ear and cervical spine have since been deemed “permanent in nature.”
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of Davis and her husband, Edward, against the Skokie-based banquet hall, Ateres Ayala, and its parent company, Luxe Catering LLC, as well as the manufacturer of the unstable cover, José Vargas Ortega, after the unexpected incident.
One of the Davises’ attorneys, Timothy Cavanagh, claimed the entire incident was “easily preventable” and “should never have happened.”
‘It was possible that the chuppah had been hit at that time, causing it to collapse. It wasn’t supposed to go down anyway,” added another of the Davises’ attorneys, Marc McCallister.
On September 13, almost three years after their son’s wedding, a $2.3 million settlement was reached with the defendants, as lawyers for the Davis family argued: “If the case went to trial, we were prepared to present a video of the collapse and unrebutted testimony that Ateres and Luxe’s failure to properly secure the chuppah in a structurally sound condition was the cause of the collapse.’
“If Ateres and Luxe had properly secured the chuppah, it would not have collapsed, Janet Davis’ injuries would have been avoided, and the family would have enjoyed a beautiful wedding celebration,” Cavanagh added.
On September 13, almost three years after their son’s wedding, a $2.3 million settlement was reached with the defendants, as lawyers for the Davis family argued: “If the case went to trial, we were prepared to present a video of the collapse and unrebutted testimony that Ateres and Luxe’s failure to properly secure the chuppah in a structurally sound condition was the cause of the collapse.
Davis was reportedly standing directly under the chuppah when the approximately 87-pound structure collapsed, striking her in the neck and back. Pictured: a Jewish wedding chuppah
According to McCallister, Ateres Ayala paid $550,000 in restitution, Ortega paid $10,000 in restitution and Luxe Catering paid the remaining $1.74 million.
A chuppah is usually made of silk or velvet, but can be made from almost anything, including a quilt made with contributions from guests or a family heirloom.
The ceremonial structure is usually supported by four poles and is often decorated with flowers, ribbons, vines or lace.
The canopy-shaped cover is designed to symbolize the family’s new roof and the couple’s intention to create a new home and a new life together.