Philly woman wants $30K slip-and-fall settlement vacated, says defendant missed payments

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia woman who claimed she was injured at her former apartment complex and settled with her ex-landlord before trial is now seeking to re-list the case for trial after he allegedly missed paying several installments of the settlement funds.

Patricia Geathers initially brought action against Jacob D. Mickens of Elkins Park in July 2012. Mickens owns a three-story apartment building at 428 East Tulpehocken Street in Philadelphia, where Geathers formerly resided.

On Dec. 5, 2009, Geathers alleges she slipped on the front steps of the East Tulpehocken Street property, due to both an accumulation of snow, the steps not having a handrail and allegedly being in “slippery, uneven and/or defective” condition.

Geathers claims to have suffered a fracture, sprain/strain and torn ligaments and cartilage in her left ankle; cervical disc bulges in her C3-C6 vertebrae; low back pain; and knee injuries.

In the process of treating these injuries, Geathers alleges to have incurred large sums of medical bills.

In November 2013, arbitrators assigned to the case found in the favor of Geathers, in the amount of $40,000. Mickens summarily appealed this verdict.

Following further litigation, the case was settled on Sept. 18, only this time the final amount in damages was set at $30,000. Per the settlement terms, Mickens was to issue a check in the amount of $10,000 up front, then provide regular installments of $350 on the first of each month, until the remaining balance of $20,000 was paid off.

Further, an agreed stipulation of this settlement arrangement was Geathers possessing the right to recommend the case be re-listed for trial if Mickens were to default on any of his payments, she says.

Geathers and her counsel claim Mickens did not issue his installments for October, December or January. Therefore, Geathers has petitioned the court for the settlement to be vacated and the matter to be re-listed for future trial.

A hearing on the matter was set for May 26, in court chambers at Philadelphia City Hall.

The plaintiff was originally seeking not in excess of $50,000 in this case, plus compensatory and delay damages, court costs and post-judgment interest.

The plaintiff is represented by Elias B. Landau and Vincent J. Bonaventura, Jr., in Philadelphia.

The defendant is represented by Louis B. Stevens, also in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas 111103057

From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com