April 24, 2026

FARMINGTON HILLS – QPWB Senior Partner Rana Lange secured a complete defense victory in a high-exposure negligence case involving a traumatic brain injury. Despite a $2,000,000 demand from the Plaintiff, the court returned a final award of $0.00, exonerating our client of all liability.

Overview of the Case

The case centered on a tragic incident involving an 11-year-old boy attending an after-school program at a local children’s recreation center. While the program was in session, the Plaintiff and two friends made the unauthorized decision to leave the premises and cross a busy thoroughfare to reach a nearby gas station. While crossing the road, the Plaintiff, one of the three boys in the group, was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road, sustaining multiple injuries.

The Plaintiff and his parents subsequently filed suit against the recreation center.

Key Difference-Maker

• Rana Lange – Senior Partner, Farmington Hills

Claims Made Against Our Client

The Plaintiff’s counsel alleged both general and active negligence, arguing that the recreation center failed to properly monitor and supervise the children in its care. The Plaintiff contended that the staff breached their duty by failing to keep the minors within the designated program area and neglecting to warn them of the inherent dangers of leaving the facility.

To support the $2,000,000 demand, opposing counsel emphasized the severe nature of the Plaintiff’s injuries, which included a traumatic brain injury, a hematoma to the back of the skull, and two three-inch lacerations to the left arm that exposed adipose tissue.

Defense Strategy

The defense, led by Rana Lange, focused on two critical pillars: the standard of care expected of a minor and the principle of comparative negligence. Recognizing that the strength of the case rested on the objective facts of the incident, Lange immediately moved to secure all available surveillance and law enforcement footage.

QPWB conducted exhaustive research into the legal standards governing the conduct of a minor, using these findings to drive a rigorous deposition process. Lange strategically leveraged this data to establish that the Plaintiff’s actions were the sole proximate cause of the accident. The defense presented irrefutable evidence from street-level cameras that captured the group’s behavior after they had exited the facility. The footage revealed the Plaintiff and his companions engaging in careless horseplay and reckless behavior, including attempts to distract drivers and elicit honks from passing vehicles.

Furthermore, Ms. Lange demonstrated that the facility could not be held liable for the impulsive, unauthorized actions of a minor that occurred off-premises and in direct violation of established program rules. By meticulously layering the research on comparative negligence with the physical evidence, the defense successfully reframed the narrative, shifting the focus from alleged institutional failure to the individual actions of the Plaintiff.

Impact on Final Outcome

The defense’s meticulous preparation and presentation of the evidence resulted in a total "No Cause" victory. Rana Lange successfully integrated the critical video footage with comprehensive witness and Plaintiff depositions to create an undeniable timeline of events.

These elements, when presented in concert, pointed to the Plaintiff’s own negligence as the sole cause of the accident. This strategic alignment of objective visual data and testimonial evidence left no room for ambiguity, leading to a final judgment of $0.00.

Unique Aspects of the Case

The most critical element of this litigation was the discovery of street-level camera footage that captured the moments leading up to the impact. The video showed the Plaintiff and his friends "horseplaying" on the sidewalk and intentionally attempting to get drivers to honk their horns. Most notably, the video caught the Plaintiff in a 'runner's stance' before he suddenly entered the roadway without looking both ways. This objective visual evidence, paired with body-camera footage from the responding officer’s investigation, neutralized the Plaintiff’s claims of lack of supervision.

Predicting the Future

This victory is significant for local children’s recreation centers and youth outreach programs that serve as a vital part of the community. By aggressively defending the client and leaving no stone unturned, QPWB has demonstrated that it handles both small and large-scale matters with the same level of high-caliber intensity. This result establishes a strong precedent for defending insureds against claims of negligent supervision.

Key Actions in This Case

• Immediate Evidence Preservation: Secured street-level surveillance and police body-camera footage immediately upon receipt of the file, providing irrefutable proof of the Plaintiff's actions.
• Standard of Care Mastery: Utilized specialized research on comparative negligence for minors to drive the narrative during depositions and trial presentation.

About QPWB

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. is one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States providing a different focus on what it means to provide responsive service to clients and team members. With a national presence of 57 offices and a comprehensive scope of over 130 practice areas, QPWB delivers legal representation in litigation, regulatory, and corporate matters to a diverse range of industries. This scope and rapid expansion has attracted unique legal talent from all different backgrounds and experiences which has made them the largest minority-owned law firm in the country.