Phila. Museum of Art sued by patron injured by fall on slate walkway

A Georgia woman is suing the Philadelphia Museum of Art over claims that

she was injured after falling on broken slate at the city art institution.

Winter Chatman, of Duluth, Ga., filed suit last week at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the art museum and the City of Philadelphia’s Risk Management Division over bodily injuries she says she sustained on April 12, 2012.

At about 10 in the morning on that day, the complaint says, Chatman was walking on the northwest terrace to the rear of the museum when, suddenly and without warning, she tripped and fell due to broken and uneven slate walkway.

The incident allegedly caused the museum patron to sustain multiple bruises, contusions, nerve damage and other injuries to her neck, left shoulder, knees, left hip, left foot and head.

The plaintiff says she has experienced great pain and suffering, suffered a serious impairment of her bodily functions, and had to spend various sums of money on medical attention.

Chatman’s financial expenses have exceeded $19,150, the complaint states.

The defendants are accused of negligence and carelessness for allowing and causing a dangerous condition to exist at the premises, failing to correct the defect, failing to warn museum patrons of the dangerous condition of the slate walkway, and failing to provide and maintain a safe and proper route of travel for those visiting the cultural institution.

Chatman seeks damages in excess of $75,000, plus interest, litigation costs and attorneys’ fees.

The plaintiff is being represented by lawyers Brad S. Tabakin and Richard A. Wolfe of the Jenkintown, Pa. firm Galerman Tabakin & Wolfe.

 

The federal case number is 2:14-cv-02005-NIQA.