Key Takeaways for Pennsylvania Victims of Premises Liability and Institutional Negligence

The recently reported verdict in Abby Zwerner’s case in which a jury awarded $10 million after she was shot by a six-year-old student in an elementary school classroom in Virginia carries important lessons for victims of institutional failures here in Pennsylvania.

While the incident occurred in Virginia, the legal principles behind the case apply broadly particularly in situations where school officials, property owners, or institutional managers fail to act on credible warnings of danger. If you were injured because a property or institution neglected clear risk, this verdict underscores how serious liability can be.

What Happened: The Facts

  • On January 6, 2023, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, a first-grade teacher, Abby Zwerner, was shot by a six-year-old student while sitting at a reading table in his classroom.

  • According to her lawsuit, multiple school staff members had reported concerns that the child may have had a gun earlier that day; including at least four warnings to administration before the shooting.

  • Zwerner required six surgeries, still has limitations with her left hand and a bullet remains lodged near her chest.

  • The former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, was found liable in the civil case and a jury held her personally accountable for ignoring the warnings. The verdict signals that administration must treat credible threats seriously.

Legal Relevance for Pennsylvania Victims

1. Foreseeability & Duty to Act

In this case, the central question was whether the administrator should have foreseen the danger after multiple warnings and taken action to protect. The jury’s decision affirms that ignoring credible threats can lead to significant liability.

Under Pennsylvania law, institutions hold a duty to protect individuals when they have knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of a dangerous condition. If your case involves a property owner, school district, or institution that ignored warnings or failed to act, you may have grounds for a premises-liability or institutional-negligence claim.

2. Severity & Life-Changing Damage

Zwerner’s injuries were severe and permanent: multiple surgeries, loss of use in a hand, permanent bullet injury. The jury’s award reflects how courts value future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and emotional trauma when the defendant’s conduct is especially negligent.

If you have suffered catastrophic injuries due to institutional negligence in Pennsylvania, your legal team should carefully document:

  • Current and future medical expenses

  • Impact on work and earning ability

  • Emotional and psychological harm (PTSD, anxiety)

  • Quality of life reductions

3. Response Time & Warnings Ignored

Legal outcomes hinge on the timeline: If multiple warnings are ignored and no reasonable action is taken, the institution’s liability increases. In Pennsylvania cases, evidence of ignored reports, lack of investigation, or insufficient safety protocols strengthens your case.

4. Cross-Jurisdictional Insight

While this occurred in Virginia, the verdict can be cited as persuasive authority in Pennsylvania; showing how juries react when institutions fail to protect. Attorneys can use such out-of-state verdicts to bolster arguments on negligence and damages.

What You Should Do If You’re Injured in a Similar Situation in PA

  • Seek medical attention immediately: document your injuries and treatment plan.

  • Preserve evidence: photographs of the location, warnings given, incident reports, communication logs.

  • Request incident reports: schools, institutions or employers must generate these obtain a copy.

  • Avoid speculation: Don’t accept quick settlements; serious negligence claims require full evaluation of future costs.

  • Contact an experienced attorney: Institutions often have insurance and sophisticated defense teams; prompt legal counsel can ensure your rights are protected.

At Pisanchyn Law Firm, we’ve helped injured clients navigate complex liability claims when institutions fail their duty. If you or a loved one were harmed because a school, employer, property owner or institution ignored clear warnings or failed to act when danger was foreseeable; contact us for a free consultation.

Why This Case Matters

This jury verdict isn’t just a headline; it’s a warning to institutions and a beacon for victims. It demonstrates:

  • The cost of ignoring legitimate threats

  • How lawsuits can hold decision-makers accountable

  • The importance of documenting and proving long-term harm

For anyone injured due to institutional negligence in Pennsylvania, this case is a reminder: You’re entitled to justice. You’re entitled to full compensation. And you’re not alone.