The cases below are real-life examples of how COMPU-WEATHER 's experts have helped to make the difference for our clients.

A 24-karat weather verification

A jewelry store in the southwestern part of the United States ran a contest that stipulated if the temperature reached a certain record level on the day of the contest, that every customer who purchased from the store that day would receive free jewelry.  The record temperature on the day of the contest was 115 degrees.  According to the jewelry store, the temperature that afternoon hit 116 degrees, which meant that every single customer was given free jewelry, costing the store some $100,000!! 

Prior to the contest, the store had taken out an insurance policy to cover their potential loss, should the record-breaking event occur.  And according to the store, it did.  They even turned in an "official looking" document to their insurance company, claiming they had a loss which they wanted to be reimbursed for.  The claims adjuster for the insurance company contacted COMPU-WEATHER and requested a verification of the temperature for that day.  The report provided to the insurance company by COMPU-WEATHER showed a temperature of only 112 degrees.   The reporting station that the jewelry store used in their claim to the insurance company, was from a location which is not monitored or controlled by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Since there is no quality control at this site, it is not considered an official site for weather records.  Based on the report from COMPU-WEATHER, the claim was denied saving the insurance company $100,000.

Was it an event-in-progress?

Plaintiff, a woman in her 30s, filed suit against a hospital in southeastern New York, after slipping and falling due to a puddle of water at the entranceway to the building.  The woman was entering the building with her boyfriend, who was there undergoing blood tests.  Her boyfriend testified that he noticed the puddle at 9:20 am as they were entering the building.  They both claimed that the accident occurred as they were leaving, and that it was not raining or snowing at the time of the slip.

Defendant Hospital contended that the accident occurred as plaintiff was entering the building, and that a snowstorm was still in progress at the time.  At trial, expert testimony from a COMPU-WEATHER forensic meteorologist, confirmed the Hospital's stance that snow was indeed still falling at 9:20 am, and was part of a storm which had started several hours earlier.  The storm came to an end shortly before 10:00 am, which was determined to be after the time that the slip took place. 

Verdict came back in favor of defense, based on COMPU-WEATHER'S testimony that at the time of the slip, snow was falling, and thus, it was an event in progress.   

When did the hole become visible?

Plaintiff, a woman in her 40s, filed suit against a horse farm located in the Catskill Mountains of New York.  She sustained severe injuries after the horse she was riding on, stepped into a hole located on a riding trail inside the expansive farm, and fell over, causing her to be thrown to the ground.  The trail is maintained by the farm, and is open year-round. The incident took place in the month of December.

Defendant Horse Farm contended that they had no knowledge of the hole's existence, as it was filled and covered by snow and ice from winter storm events which had occurred in the two week period leading up to the day of the incident.

At trial, the COMPU-WEATHER forensic meteorologist testified that it had indeed snowed on two different occasions in the 10 day period leading up to the day of occurrence.  However, temperatures and degree of sunshine during subsequent days after the last snow event, would have been sufficient to cause the amount of snow that had accumulated, to melt away completely.  And that this would have taken place at least 60 hours prior to the date and time of the incident.

Verdict came back in favor of plaintiff, based on COMPU-WEATHER'S testimony that more than two days time would have passed in between the time that the hole became visible after the snow melted away, and the time that the accident occurred.

Was there leftover ice ?

Plaintiff, a woman in her 50s, claimed that she slipped and fell in the alleyway behind the rear entrance to the apartment complex she lived at, in New York.  The claim indicated that the cause of the slip was residual ice which had been leftover from a previous storm which had taken place several days beforehand, and that the owner of the apartment building should have had removed.  She stated that the ice was covered by a light dusting of snow, which was occurring at the time of the slip.

At trial, Defense called upon the expertise of COMPU-WEATHER to provide testimony as to what the weather conditions were leading up to, and at the time of, the slip.  Testimony given by the COMPU-WEATHER meteorologist, indicated that a light accumulation of snow had taken place five days before the day of the slip. Following that snowfall, the combination of sunshine and daily high temperatures in the 20s and 30s, would have been sufficient to cause all of the snow which had fallen from that storm event, to completely melt away.  At the time of the slip, the only snow or ice that would have been present, was from the snow which was falling at the time.

Based on the fact that the slip was a result of a storm-in-progress, and not from leftover ice from a previous storm,  the jury came back with a verdict in favor of the Defendant.

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