PHILADELPHIA – According to a plaintiff’s counsel, conflicts between him and his client have led the attorney to petition the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas to be excused from fulfilling the responsibility of legal representation.
Philadelphia-based lawyer Scott A. Bennett motioned to the Court to withdraw his appearance from representing Meadowbrook residents John and Patricia Farris in a pending negligence action, due to “significant and irreparable differences.”
Bennett further requested a 90-day stay on all proceedings in this matter, in order to provide the Farrises to seek new legal counsel. A hearing on this matter will be convened in Court chambers at Philadelphia City Hall on Wednesday.
On Sept. 13, John Farris was walking past the front door of the Sunoco Mini-Market in Rockledge when he slipped and fell, allegedly due to rain water from the outside that had been tracked into the store and onto a small mat, not large enough to accommodate that amount of liquid.
Farris’ lawsuit, filed in January, claims the fall was caused by negligence on the part of the store in not recognizing or remedying this condition on the floor, or warning customers of its presence.
In the fall, Farris suffered a fractured right ankle that needed repair through the installation of surgical screws and pins, injury to nerves and the nervous system, injury to soft tissues and sleep loss, some or all of which may be permanent, the suit says.
Farris also claims to have endured physical pain, embarrassment, loss of life’s pleasures, and not having the freedom to pursue his usual activities, along with racking up large medical bills.
Along with naming himself and his wife Patricia, who is suing for loss of consortium, as plaintiffs, the suit names the Sunoco Mini-Mart in Rockledge, Sunoco, Inc. in Philadelphia, owner Abdul Malik in Philadelphia, and Malik & Malik Investments as defendants.
The plaintiffs are each seeking in excess of $50,000, plus interest and court costs.
The defendants are represented by Robert D. Billet and Stacy L. Greenberg, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 150103285
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com