BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A North Buffalo woman has won a lawsuit that will award her close to $1 million. She claimed she was hurt during a session with her personal trainer.

Linda-Baldi Perry had a surgery in 2005 to remove discs from her neck. Her lawyer said that’s when she turned to a personal trainer for help to stay healthy.

Joseph Morath is Perry’s Attorney.

“The worst thing that someone can do when they have a fusion in their spine- which is what Linda had- is become a couch potato,” he said. “That puts them at risk for future problems. So the idea is stay active, stay fit and stay out of the doctors office.”

Morath says Perry told her trainer about her physical restrictions. But after working with him for two years, she re-injured herself permanently training with him. He says Perry is in great pain.

“So basically she wakes up with a headache every day and goes to bed with a headache every night. She has a significant loss of range of motion in her neck because you lose about 17 to 20 percent of your range of motion per disk that’s fused. Now she has a very large fusion,” he says.

Morath says she had to get titanium plates and rods in her neck.

Perry worked out at Fitness 360 on Delaware Avenue. The gym has since closed but her message remains the same. She said a rule paramount to working out is always know and trust the trainer.

“Make sure you’re with someone who knows what they’re doing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Morath said. “You’re not going to hurt their feelings by questioning their credentials, because you don’t need a degree to be a personal trainer.”

Morath says the workout caused permanent damage to the discs above and below Perry’s original fusion. A State Supreme Court Jury awarded Perry $980,000 for her pain and suffering.