Jury returns record award in tragic retaining wall failure case

Action: Negligence, gross negligence

Injuries alleged: Plaintiff 1: Numerous injuries including crush injuries, multiple facial fractures, loss of teeth, subarachnoid hemorrhage, pelvic fractures, hematomas, acute renal injury, disc herniation, foot fracture, lacerations. Plaintiff 2: Loss of consortium. Plaintiff 3: Comminuted femur fracture, foot fractures, PTSD.

Case name: Valdez et al. v. Hajoca Corporation et al.

Court/case no.: Henderson County Superior Court

Jury and/or judge: Jury verdict, Judge Steve Warren presided

Amount: $101 million compensatory (Case settled as jury was deliberating on punitive damages.)

Date: May 19, 2026

Attorneys: John McCabe of The Law Offices of John M. McCabe in Cary, Brian Davis and Beth Davis of Davis Law Group in Asheville, Meredith Hinton of the Ricci Law Firm in Greenville, and Alicia Campbell of Campbell Law in Saint Louis, Missouri (for the plaintiff)

A Henderson County Superior Court jury returned a $101 million compensatory damages verdict in Valdez v. Hajoca following a six-week trial — what plaintiff’s counsel believes is the largest personal injury jury verdict recorded in North Carolina.

The case arose from the 2021 collapse of a concrete block retaining wall at a plumbing supply business on Spartanburg Highway, which killed one worker and caused catastrophic and permanent injuries to two others. A third plaintiff asserted a loss of consortium claim arising from the impact the injuries had on her marriage and family life.

The litigation lasted more than five and a half years and involved heavily contested issues of liability and damages. Plaintiffs maintained throughout that the defendants and their insurers failed to fully acknowledge the magnitude of harm suffered by the injured workers and their families. The case settled for a confidential sum while the jury was deliberating on punitive damages.

“This verdict reflects the extraordinary courage of our clients and the commitment of the jury to delivering justice,” said attorney John McCabe of The Law Offices of John M. McCabe in Cary. “Our clients endured devastating physical injuries, emotional trauma, and years of uncertainty, yet they continued to place their trust in the justice system and in our trial team.”

McCabe said the case went beyond the injuries themselves.

“This case was about accountability, dignity, and the value of human life and human suffering. We are profoundly grateful to the jury for the seriousness, thoughtfulness, and dedication they brought to this case during six weeks of service.”

He also praised the jury for its attentiveness throughout the lengthy proceedings.

“This jury took its responsibility incredibly seriously,” McCabe said. “They listened carefully, deliberated thoughtfully, and demonstrated the very best of our civil justice system.”

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said their clients have rebuilt their lives as best they can and have returned to work.