HARRISBURG – A three-judge panel of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania upheld the decision of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County to transfer the venue of a personal injury lawsuit to Bucks County from Philadelphia County, according to a June 12 Superior Court ruling.
Curtis Anthony filed a complaint on June 14, 2017, alleging that he sustained serious injuries while visiting Parx Casino in October 2015.
The defendants in Anthony's lawsuit include Parx Casino, Parx Casino and Racing, Parx Casino Design Inc., Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment Inc., Greenwood Racing Inc., Philadelphia Park Casino and Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack.
According to court documents, Anthony alleged that he “was caused to trip, slip, stumble and/or fall by reason of a broken and defective walkway and curb” that Parx negligently failed to maintain, inspect and repair.
The Superior Court said Parx requested a change of venue.
Superior Court Judge Anne Lazarus said in her ruling that “It is undisputed that Anthony’s alleged accident occurred at a Bucks County casino that is operated by a corporation that only does business in Bucks County.”
The court said a similar case against Parx originated in Philadelphia County, although that alleged accident also occurred in Bucks County. That case was also transferred to Bucks County at Parx's request, Lazarus said.
"We agree with the trial court’s decision to transfer venue to Bucks County," the Superior Court ruling said. "The court did not abuse its discretion in granting Parx’s preliminary objections on the basis of venue."
The other two judges on the panel, Judge Alice Beck Dubow and Judge Jacqueline Shogan, agreed with the opinion written by Lazarus..