PHILADELPHIA – Defense counsel, citing a variety of factors, petitioned the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas to open a default judgment levied against their client in December.
Alex B. Norman filed the motion on Jan. 21 on behalf of Voorhees, N.J.-based Sky Transportation Services, LLC. The motion alluded to the defendant being unaware of the default judgment handed down by the Court on Dec. 17, alleged their vehicle had the right-of-way in the subject accident (a meritorious defense) and did not understand that the judgment would be entered.
Norman further asserted the complaint was only filed four months ago and the plaintiff continues to seek treatment for it.
A hearing in this matter was set for Friday in Court chambers, at Philadelphia City Hall.
On Nov. 14, 2013, plaintiff Mamoutou Sylla operated a 1999 Buick Regal motor vehicle eastbound in the right lane of Chestnut Street, near its intersection with 16th Street. At the same place and time, employees of Sky Transportation Services were traveling in a 2007 Ford Econoline van. According to the lawsuit, the defendant’s van suddenly turned into the plaintiff’s lane of travel and caused a collision, striking the driver’s side door of the plaintiff’s vehicle and causing that vehicle to hit the nearby curb.
Sylla allegedly suffered bilateral radiculopathy in his C5-C6, L4 and L5 vertebrae, right carpal tunnel syndrome, aggravation of spondylosis of cervical and lumbar spines, aggravation of disc protrusion at his L3-L4 vertebrae, plus other injuries to bones and connective tissue in the crash.
The plaintiff is seeking financial recovery under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (PMVFRL) and is further seeking judgment in excess of $50,000, plus attorney’s fees, costs of suit and other relief in this case.
The plaintiff is represented by Jeffrey F. Parker of Goldberg & Weinstein, in Philadelphia.
The defendant is represented by Norman and Gregory S. Bergman of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, also in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 151000350
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com