PITTSBURG — A Gilmer attorney’s client recently obtained what a veteran Pittsburg lawyer said may have been a record-high civil lawsuit verdict in Camp County history.

A jury in the 76th/276th District Court awarded Candelario (Candy) Becerric of Pittsburg $856,000 in his “premises liability” suit against Brookshire’s Grocery Co., said his attorney, Brent Goudarzi of Gilmer.

Longtime Pittsburg attorney Paul Mayben, the senior member of the Camp County bar, informed The Mirror that the Oct. 23 verdict may be the largest civil verdict in the county’s history.

With costs and interest added, the total judgment is $975,388, Goudarzi said Thursday.

Becerric sued on grounds that a Sept. 5, 2006, fall in the Brookshire’s supermarket at Pittsburg caused a herniated disc, which required surgery in his lower back, said Goudarzi.

Becerric, 35, had suffered a similar injury while working for Pilgrim’s Pride in 2001, and the grocery chain thus contended that “this (supposed new) injury was an old injury,” said Goudarzi.

But the plaintiff argued that the fall “either exacerbated a preexisting condition or further injured the preexisting condition,” the attorney said.

The grocery chain, represented by Texarkana attorney Paul Miller, denied that claim, said Goudarzi, who said both sides presented medical testimony supporting their respective views.

The Gilmer attorney said the accident occurred when Becerric was standing in the checkout line and leaned back to get his wallet. The weight of Becerric’s body touched a steel railing, which broke, causing him to lose his balance and fall, said Goudarzi.

The plaintiff argued that Brookshire’s knew the railing was defective and failed to correct it, the attorney said. The grocery chain has given no indication it will appeal the verdict, Goudarzi added.

Pittsburg attorney Mike Setty was local counsel for the plaintiff.

State District Judge William Porter presided in the case.