A Los Angeles County jury awarded $1.4 million to a Long Beach man after a lawn mower at a city golf course flung a golf ball through a café window, sending glass shards into his left eye and leaving him with permanent nerve damage. The verdict, returned on March 19, 2026, came after American Golf Corporation admitted liability before trial, leaving the jury to determine damages alone.
The case centered on a piece of maintenance equipment that lacked basic safety features and a corporation that knew it.
What Happened at Heartwell Golf Course
On June 14, 2024, Thomas Graham, a man in his mid-50s, was at Heartwell Golf Course in Long Beach with his son. While ordering food at the course's on-site café, a lawn mower operating nearby struck a golf ball that had been left in the grass. The ball was launched at an estimated 200 miles per hour, according to the firm that represented Graham.
The ball shattered the café window. Glass shards struck the left side of Graham's face, and one small fragment entered his left eye.
According to the lawsuit, filed in October 2024, the mowing equipment lacked deflectors and other basic safety features that would have prevented the ball from being projected toward the café area. American Golf Corporation, which operates Heartwell Golf Course along with more than 40 public and private courses across the country, admitted liability prior to trial on that basis.
The Injury and Its Lasting Impact
The glass fragment caused permanent damage to the cornea and nerves in Graham's left eye. According to attorneys at Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP, who represented Graham at trial, his symptoms include a persistent foreign body sensation, daily discomfort, chronic redness, and severe headaches that at times escalate into migraines. Those symptoms have continued from the date of the incident and are expected to persist indefinitely.
Graham has worked for the Orange County Sheriff's Department for more than two decades and continues to serve as a commander despite his injuries. Before the accident, coworkers described him as a people person and a strong mentor. His attorney, Jon Davidi, said the constant pain began to change his personality.
Graham continues to see ophthalmologists exploring potential treatment, though there is no guarantee he will ever be pain-free. Davidi said his client is trying to remain hopeful that symptoms will slowly improve over time.
Admitted Liability, Damages-Only Trial
Because American Golf Corporation admitted fault before trial, the jury's sole task was to determine what Graham's injuries were worth. The 12-person jury awarded $1.4 million for pain and mental suffering.
Davidi described the award as wholly appropriate, saying it recognized what was taken from Graham. Attorneys for American Golf Corporation did not respond to press requests for comment.
Brigitta Cymerint, another member of Graham's trial team at Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP, noted that injuries not visible from the outside can carry profound and permanent consequences for a person's daily life. Co-counsel Dan Dunbar also represented Graham at trial alongside Davidi and Cymerint.
What This Verdict Signals for Premises Liability Attorneys
Cases involving admitted liability put the entire focus on damages presentation, and this verdict illustrates how effectively a well-documented injury narrative can hold up in that context. Graham's case combined objective medical evidence of permanent nerve damage with detailed testimony about its impact on his work performance, personality, and quality of life.
For plaintiff attorneys handling premises liability cases against large corporate operators, this outcome is a useful reference point: a mid-range damages award for a single-eye injury with chronic but non-blinding effects, against a defendant that had already conceded fault.
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