PHILADELPHIA – Case disagreements and communication difficulties have led plaintiff counsel in a slip-and-fall case against an area Shop-Rite grocery store to leave that case.
Michael T. van der Veen filed a motion to withdraw appearance on April 13, due to these disagreements within the procession of the case, and an irreconcilable breakdown in the attorney client relationship with plaintiff Amparo Carrion.
This breakdown consisted of the plaintiff allegedly refusing to answer counsel’s phone calls and correspondence, not appearing for arbitration, and owing an outstanding balance of $775.00 in costs, which van der Veen wants the plaintiff to reimburse. The petitioner also requests a 30-day stay of proceedings, to provide time for the plaintiff to seek new counsel.
A hearing in this matter was set for last Thursday in Court chambers, at Philadelphia City Hall.
On Dec. 7, 2013, Carrion was shopping on the defendant’s store at Front and Olney Avenue in Philadelphia, when she was allegedly caused to slip and fall due to a white substance in the aisles of the premises. Carrion alleged a failure to inspect, maintain or repair the floor surface, and knew of this defective condition.
Carrion allegedly suffered cervicobrachial syndrome, total spinal strain and sprain, lumbar nerve root compression and shoulder strain and sprain, resulting in cosmetic disfigurement and physical deformity.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 in this case from the ShopRite store and Collins Family Markets, Inc defendants.
The defendants are represented by Thomas J. Bradley of McBreen & Kopko, also in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 150302844
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com