PITTSBURGH – An Avalon policeman who allegedly suffered severe bodily injuries in the course of assisting paramedics on a residential medical call last year has filed suit in response to the incident.
Frank M. Colonello and Susan Haas Colonello of Allison Park filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Nov. 22 versus Charlene Marie Haslett, of Pittsburgh.
Haslett is the owner of real estate located 619 Parkview Avenue in Pittsburgh. On Jan. 19, 2016, Frank, a police officer for the Borough of Avalon, arrived at the property to assist Ira C. Haslett, the defendant’s wheelchair-bound husband who was returning from the hospital.
While paramedics were attempting to maneuver Haslett into the house, Frank positioned himself on the rear porch to provide assistance when the defendant’s adult son, David Haslett, attempted to open the rear door of the premises wider and stepped backwards, causing Frank to fall off the porch onto a cement sidewalk, the suit says.
The porch allegedly contained no railing or appropriate barrier, leading to suffer severe impact and permanent injuries.
The plaintiffs allege Frank suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal of the left foot; nerve damage; torn ligaments and tendons of the right ankle; damage to the ligaments, tendons and soft tissue; loss of general good health and vitality and a permanent partial disability.
According to the plaintiffs, the defendants failed to use reasonable care to make the residential premises safe or warn of the aforementioned dangerous condition on the porch, among other charges.
For counts of negligence and loss of consortium, the plaintiffs are seeking damages in an amount in excess of the arbitration limits of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
The plaintiffs are represented by J. Kerrington Lewis of Lewis Lewis & Reilly, in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-17-016025
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com