PHILADELPHIA — A hospital guest is suing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, alleging that the VA did not take sufficient measures to prevent injuries at its Philadelphia medical center.
Darlene Marshall-Lee filed a complaint June 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, claiming the VA failed to maintain the medical center's elevators in a reasonably safe working condition.
According to the complaint, Marshall-Lee was injured on June 2, 2015 when the medical center's elevator door did not stop upon making contact with her, pinning her between the doors. She claims she sustained a right shoulder sprain and a contusion with persistent pain as a result of the incident.
The plaintiff said the defendant is responsible for her injuries because it allegedly failed to properly inspect, maintain and repair the elevators to ensure that they were safe for use by individuals on the premises.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks $18,000 in damages and other relief as the court deems appropriate. She is represented by Benjamin J. Simmons of DeFino Law Associates PC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:18-cv-02333-NIQA