Temple University faces personal injury claim over stairwell incident at Liacouras Center

A Philadelphia woman who alleges she sustained bodily injuries after falling down a stairwell at Temple University’s Liacouras Center has filed a personal injury claim against the school.

Philadelphia attorneys Ricky L. Liss and George S. Marion, of the law firm of Liss & Marion PC, filed the civil action Sept. 23 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Michelle Weston-Johnson and her husband, Arthur Weston.

The defendants named in the complaint are The Liacouras Center, Temple University, Global Spectrum LP, Global Spectrum Inc., Comcast Spectator Ventures LLC, and Comcast Corp.

According to the complaint, Weston-Johnson was attending a comedy show at the Liacouras Center on Oct. 25, 2009, when she suddenly tripped and fell down an unlit stairwell without a railing, sustaining various physical injuries.

The suit claims that Weston-Johnson had been waiting for the aid of an usher prior to descending the stairs, but when one didn’t appear, she decided to go down the stairs on her own accord.

As a result of her fall, Weston-Johnson sustained injuries to her bones, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, tissues and nerves, the suit claims. She also suffered aches, pains, mental anxiety and anguish, the suit claims.

The lawsuit claims Weston-Johnson has been unable to attend to her usual duties and occupations, and has suffered financial loss and detriment as a result of her injuries. She has also had to expend various sums of money on medical attention.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligence, carelessness and recklessness for failing to properly inspect the premises and adjacent areas, failing to correct the dangerous condition that existed, failing to provide ushers to assist spectators safely to their assigned seats, failing to provide lighting for the steps, failing to provide railings for the steps, failing to warn business invitees of the dangerous condition that existed on the premises, and failing to remedy the defective condition.

Weston-Johnson demands judgment against the defendants in an amount greater than $50,000.

Arthur Weston has a loss of consortium claim in the lawsuit in which he, too, demands judgment against the defendants in excess of $50,000.

In his count in the lawsuit, Weston claims he has been deprived of the care, comfort, society, companionship and assistance of his wife because of her injuries.

The plaintiffs have demanded a jury trial.

The case number is 110902666.