Patton Boggs Represents Famed Economist in Personal Injury Lawsuit

Patton Boggs is trying its hand at personal injury litigation.

The firm is representing Jacques Polak, a widely respected macroeconomist, in a suit against the International Monetary Fund, which Polak helped start up in 1947 as one of its earliest senior officials.

Polak, 94, is suing IMF for injuries he received from a fall at the IMF’s eighth annual Jacques Polak Research Conference held last year in his honor.

In the complaint filed by Patton Boggs last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Polak alleges that while approaching his reserved seat at the conference, he fell on a flight of stairs that did not have an adequate handrail, hit his head, and sustained “serious, permanent, debilitating injuries.” Polak claims the IMF was negligent and failed to construct a safe staircase.

Polak, who used to work four days a week and maintained regular tennis and bridge games before the injury, has suffered from memory loss and now has to use a walker.

Polak is asking for $6 million to cover his medical expenses, his wife’s medical expenses because he was her primary caretaker, and the mental anguish associated with his injuries.

Polak’s attorney Benjamin Chew, a partner at Patton Boggs, says he was asked to represent Polak by a family friend.

“The last thing Dr. Polak wanted to do was to have to bring an action against the institution to which he has dedicated his long illustrious career. But so far, they have refused to do right by him, and he now has to take care of his family,” Chew says.

Chew says he met with the IMF before filing suit, hoping to reach a “respectful” settlement.

The IMF declined to comment through a spokesman, citing the ongoing litigation.

Comments

[James Lushe]

I also suffered similar injuries while at a public event. I sought legal representation and a settlement not out of spite, but because I could not afford the medical expenses. It is surprising how your life can take a turn for the worse so quickly.

[Ajlouny & Associates]

It's amazing how things can change in a persons life instantly from one unfortunate slip and fall. Both economically and physically.