PHILADELPHIA — A New Jersey couple is suing Eastern University and Rutgers Community Christian Church, event organizers, citing alleged negligence.
Dong Xia "Alice" Chang and Peter C. Chang filed a complaint on July 27, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, against the defendants alleging that they negligently allowed a dangerous condition to exist in the auditorium.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on May 30, 2016, Dong Xia "Alice" Chang and Peter C. Chang were attending Rutgers' three day seminar event at defendant Eastern University when Alice Chang was injured while protecting a two-year-old child from falling off the platform.
She allegedly suffered loss of consciousness and injuries to her neck, back, right shoulder and upper back. The plaintiffs holds Eastern University and Rutgers Community Christian Church responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to install guard rails to protect or to prevent anyone from falling off the platform.
They allegedly failed to have adequate safety equipment to properly set up a stage and failed to warn auditorium users of the dangers of standing on the top step of the bleachers.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek damages in excess of $50,000 plus interest and cost. They are represented by Frank P. Murphy of Murphy & Dengler in Norristown.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Case number 2:18-cv-03215-GJP