Arianna Otero, Tallahassee Democrat
Updated Sat, June 13, 2026 at 1:15 AM UTC
A Leon County jury awarded over $4.4 million to a local man after he suffered serious neck injuries when he was struck by a motorized security shutter in a Tallahassee convenience store, his attorneys said.
Justin Huber was represented by Morgan and Morgan attorneys Corey Portnoy, Dustin Middleton, and Andrew Paladino. Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes presided at the June 10 trial.
On March 25, 2023, the man was leaving Parkside Food and Gas in Tallahassee, located at 1417 S. Monroe St., when an employee activated a motorized storm shutter, which doubled as a security gate.
Orlando attorney John Morgan appears on billboards across Florida such as this one in DeLand March 23, 2026.
According to evidence, as the shutter was closing, it struck the man on the head. The impact caused serious injuries, such as compression of the spinal cord. The man underwent surgery and has suffered pain and limitations that impact his daily life, his lawyers said.
“This jury recognized that businesses have a responsibility to protect their customers from preventable hazards,” said Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Corey Portnoy.
“Our client’s injuries severely eroded his quality of life, yet the defense attempted to minimize both those injuries and the consequences he has faced since this incident. We are grateful the jury carefully evaluated the evidence and returned a verdict that fully accounts for the harm he suffered,” Portnoy added.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee man wins $4M after store shutter injury