City of Newark Pays $6.0 Million Cash Settlement in Fall-Down Injury Case
A 43-year-old Newark woman received a $6.0 million cash settlement from the City of Newark for failing to maintain its street. The woman was caused to fall into a hole that was partially covered by a metal construction plate.
According Gregg Alan Stone, Esq., her Newark NJ personal injury lawyer, "Investigation revealed that for several years leading up to the accident, the City of Newark knew that beneath the metal construction plate was a broken lateral pipe to an adjoining sewer basin, which caused the street surface above to repeatedly deteriorate and collapse."
Rather than simply replace the broken pipe, city employees repeatedly backfilled the area, placed the metal construction plate on top of the area at street level, and applied asphalt patch around the plate.
The woman underwent eight back surgeries. A morphine pump and heavy-duty narcotic medication helps control her pain.
"The injuries left our client a walking cripple. She will never work another day in her life," said Stone.
Kirsch, Gelband & Stone, 17 Academy Street, Suite 707, Newark, NJ 07102
Copyright © 2011 LexisNexis. All rights reserved.