Falling sheetrock leads to personal injury claim

A man who was allegedly injured by falling sheetrock at his apartment complex is suing the management company that operates the building.

Philadelphia attorney Scott A. Ouinn, of the firm Dion, Solomon & Shapiro, filed the premises liability complaint July 11 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of city resident Richard Green.

According to the civil action, Green was walking through his apartment complex, located at 1220 W. Lindley Avenue, on July 21, 2009, when he was struck on the head by drywall, plaster and other debris that had been negligently hanging from the ceiling.

The incident caused Green to sustain various injuries, including, but not limited to, cervical sprain and strain, thoracic sprain and strain, lumbar disc herniation, a severe shock to his nervous system and bruising, the lawsuit states.

As a result of his injuries, Green has been forced to spend large sums of money on medical services, including X-rays, medications and hospitalizations, according to the suit. Furthermore, he may suffer cosmetic disfigurement and other injuries that may be “permanent, irreparable and severe.”

He also may have aggravated pre-existing conditions.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants, named as Philadelphia-based Pen Del Real Estate, HWI Global Properties, 1220 Lindley Avenue and Pendel Lindley, of negligence, carelessness and recklessness for allowing a dangerous condition to exist on the premises. It also faults the defendants for failing to place warning signs or barricades at the area where the incident occurred.

Green demands judgment against the defendants in an amount in excess of $50,000.

The non-jury matter is scheduled for arbitration in mid March 2012.

The case number is 110700822.