PHILADELPHIA – Counsel for the United States Golf Association (USGA), a local golf course and building contractors are seeking to have the lawsuit filed by an injured guest of the U.S. Open tournament two years ago transferred to Delaware County.
Through motions for preliminary objections filed on June 19, James A. Godin seeks the lawsuit filed by Dr. Dwight Reynolds and his wife, Christine Reynolds of Parkland, Fla., moved to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. A similar motion filed by Kevin R. Dochney on July 7 also sought the exact same transfer, though he withdrew his appearance from this case on Aug. 24 and was replaced by Allen R. Bunker.
A hearing in this matter was set for Wednesday at Philadelphia City Hall, in Court chambers.
In June 2013, Merion Golf Club hosted the U.S. Open. Reynolds asserted he tripped and fell on a defective set of stairs just past Entry Gate II, before the golf course entrance. Reynolds claimed the stairs were “not level, uneven, improperly graded and installed, and not in conformity with relevant and applicable building codes.”
In the fall, Reynolds suffered a left knee quadriceps tendon rupture requiring surgeries, in addition to depression, sleeplessness, scarring and disfigurement, along with an inability to maintain his usual employment schedule, he claims.
Reynolds and his wife subsequently filed suit against the United States Golf Association in Far Hills, N.J., Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Elchick Builders of West End, N.C. and AGL Contracting of Deer Park, N.Y.
The plaintiffs are each seeking judgment, jointly and severally, in excess of $50,000, plus interest, costs, attorney’s fees and other relief, from all defendants in this case. Christine Reynolds also sues for loss of consortium, for an identical amount in damages.
The plaintiffs are represented by James B. Dilsheimer of Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 150502953
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com