A former student’s lawsuit against a prominent university and a television access corporation over an injury sustained during a lecture has been resolved in favor of the defendants. Quante Adger filed the complaint against Loyola Marymount University and Los Angeles Cable Television Access Corporation on October 24, 2016, after a portable photography light fell on him during a university event.
The incident occurred on March 17, 2015, when Adger attended a panel discussion at Loyola Marymount University’s Ahmanson Auditorium. The university had arranged for Los Angeles Cable Television Access Corporation (Access) to record the seminar. During the setup, an Access employee placed a FloLight—a portable production light—near where Adger was seated. Before it could be secured with a sandbag, the light fell and struck Adger.
Adger pursued legal action based on premises liability and negligence claims against both Loyola Marymount University and Access. He argued that the university failed to maintain safe premises and that Access negligently set up the equipment. Despite his assertions, the trial court found that while Access was negligent in setting up the FloLight, Loyola Marymount University bore no liability under either theory. Consequently, Adger was awarded $22,834 in damages from Access but nothing from the university.
The judgment awarded to Adger was less than previous settlement offers made by both defendants under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998. As a result, both defendants were entitled to recover their costs from Adger due to his rejection of these offers. The final amended judgment required Adger to pay $30,319.03 to Loyola Marymount University and $61,720.98 to Access after accounting for costs.
Adger's case spanned five years and involved multiple attorneys before he ultimately represented himself on appeal. Throughout this period, he sought extensive medical treatment for injuries he claimed were caused by the incident, including pain management and reconstructive surgery evaluations amounting to over $107,000 in medical charges.
Despite these efforts, the trial court concluded that most of Adger’s medical treatments were unrelated to the injuries caused by the falling light. Expert testimony presented during trial suggested that many healthcare providers charge more than they expect to be paid—a factor considered when determining reasonable compensation for medical expenses.
Adger appealed the decision but faced significant hurdles as substantial evidence supported the trial court's findings. His appeal included disputes over factual determinations such as injury extent and witness credibility; however, without presenting exceptional circumstances or compelling legal arguments demonstrating trial court errors, his appeal was unsuccessful.
Representing himself in pro per., Quante Adger sought reversal of judgments against him but failed to meet legal standards necessary for overturning factual findings or procedural rulings made by Judge Douglas W. Stern at Los Angeles County Superior Court (Case No: BC638290). Attorneys David R. Hunt from Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dickerson represented Loyola Marymount University while Gina E. Och from Murchison & Cumming along with Heather L. Mills from Skane Mills represented Los Angeles Cable Television Access Corporation.