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Federal jury awards paralyzed Oxford man $21M OXFORD, Miss. - A federal jury has awarded nearly $21 million to a man paralyzed five years ago after a confrontation with two Tupelo restaurant employees. A federal jury here returned the verdict Wednesday in favor of Michael Foradori Jr., who was a 15-year-old when he suffered the injury on Dec. 22, 2000, outside a Captain D's restaurant. According to witnesses, an argument between Foradori and a Captain D's employee began inside the restaurant. Instead of ending the matter, the restaurant manager on duty told the two to go outside, according to the court record. Testimony was that a second employee reportedly grabbed Foradori from behind and struck him in the back of the head. Foradori reportedly fell down a 4-foot embankment and broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Joey Langston of Booneville, one of two attorneys representing Foradori, applauded the verdict. "I appreciate everyone's view on our civil justice system," he said in a statement. "However, this is the type of verdict that demands a record verdict. This young man will have to live the rest of his life as a quadriplegic." Brad Hathaway of Greenville, one of two attorneys representing Captain D's, said he expects to appeal. "We find it an unfortunate decision that's at war with the facts," Hathaway said. The jury award totaled $20.8 million, including $10 million for past, present and future physical pain and suffering and mental anguish.
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