Slip-and-fall outside of labor union headquarters leads to lawsuit

A Philadelphia man who claims he sustained injuries after slipping a patch of ice that was allowed to remain on the sidewalk is suing the property owner.

Attorney Marc F. Greenfield, of the Philadelphia firm Spear, Greenfield & Richman, P.C., filed the premises liability complaint July 20 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Orlando Vargas.

The defendant in the suit is Laborers International Union of North America Local 332, which has its headquarters in the Northern Liberties section of the city.

According to the complaint, Vargas was walking along the defendant’s property, located at 1310 Wallace St., in early February 2010 when, “as a result of the negligence, recklessness and/or carelessness of the defendants, [was] caused … to slip and fall on ice and/or snow on the sidewalk of the premises.”

The fall caused Vargas to sustain various physical injuries, including a tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, left knee internal derangement and aggravation of pre-existing conditions, the lawsuit states.

Because of his injuries, Vargas has suffered great pain, anguish, sickness and agony, and will continue to suffer the same for an indefinite period of time, the suit claims.

The complaint states that Vargas has incurred various expenses related to his medical and rehabilitative treatment, some of which may exceed his health insurance coverage, and therefore would merit reimbursement.

The lawsuit accuses the defendant of failing to properly inspect and maintain the premises, failing to block-off or barricade the defective or dangerous area, and failing to comply with building codes, county and city laws and ordinances.

Vargas demands judgment against the defendant in a sum in excess of $50,000, plus attorney’s fees and related court costs.

A jury trial has been demanded.

The case number is 110701879.