A Northwest Philadelphia woman is suing a popular city entertainment venue, claiming
she sustained various injuries to her hand and other parts of her body after she fell down an uneven stairwell that had no hand railing.
Dawn R. Barrett, who resides in Philadelphia’s East Falls neighborhood, is suing Walking Fish Theater and its owners for the injuries she allegedly suffered back on Jan. 16, 2011, at about 5 in the afternoon.
Barrett was a public invitee of the theater on that day, when, after negotiating an unsecured stairwell with no railing and a collapsible door within the premises, she fell and sustained injuries to her hand, head, neck and back, the lawsuit states.
The complaint, which was filed at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Aug. 14 by attorney Adam S. Getson, of the city firm Wapner, Newman, Wigrizer, Brecher & Miller, accuses the defendants of negligence for failing to properly maintain the premises, failing to correct a dangerous condition, failing to provide for the safety of invitees and other acts of alleged negligence.
The defendants named in the lawsuit are The Walking Fish Theater, which is located in the city’s Fishtown section, as well as the theater’s owners, Michelle Pauls and Stanley Heleva.
Also named as a defendant is Philadelphia-based B. Somebody Productions.
Barrett’s hand injuries in particular were extensive, the suit claims, and included a crushed first digit on her left hand, a nondisplaced fracture of the distal phalanx, lacerations to the left thumb and left hand, permanent scarring to the left thumb, crush injury to the left hand and permanent scarring to the left hand.
The complaint states that the plaintiff has also undergone a shock to her nervous system, physical pain and mental anguish, and that she has been obliged to spend large amounts of money on medical attention.
Barrett has also experienced earnings losses due to her inability to work because of her injuries, the suit claims.
Barrett seeks compensatory damages in excess of $50,000.
The case ID number is 120801351.
Phila.'s Walking Fish Theater named in personal injury suit by patron who fell down stairs
