McDonald wins $181,000 in disability suit

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald has been awarded $181,000 by a district judge for a knee injury he suffered in a trip and fall accident at a Las Vegas movie theater on New Year's Eve 1991.

While McDonald won the case, the judgment was less than the $856,000 he was seeking from Syuffy Enterprises -- now Century Theaters -- for the injuries that doctors said left him with a 10 percent permanent disability.

The case was complicated because McDonald, a Metro Police bicycle patrol officer, also suffered subsequent injuries to the same knee in two automobile accidents and while chasing a suspect over a brick wall, all within a matter of months in 1992.

In his decision Wednesday, District Judge Jack Lehman compensated McDonald for his medical and surgery expenses from the Cinedome Theaters fall plus $50,000 for pain and suffering.

The judge decided that half of McDonald's 10 percent disability was a result of the fall and awarded him $95,000.

The councilman's attorney, Anthony Sgro, argued during the trial that three-quarters of the disability was the theater chain's fault and the injury kept McDonald, 33, from achieving his goal of becoming a SWAT officer.

McDonald's lawyers contended he was entitled to a total of more than $1 million for the injury to his right knee. Their task now will be to seek compensation for the other half of the partial disability from the drivers in the two auto accidents.

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