PHILADELPHIA – A rule returnable meeting has been scheduled for mid-May to determine if counsel for Cablenet Services will be allowed to withdraw their appearance, in the case of a plaintiff said to be injured by alleged negligently-maintained cable wires in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood.
Per decree from Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge John M. Younge, said meeting has been slated for May 15 at 2 p.m. in Courtroom 483 in Philadelphia City Hall, to determine if defense counselor Salvatore G. Villardi will be permitted to withdraw his appearance.
“A stay shall be entered in this matter pending the resolution of the motion to withdraw as counsel filed by the petitioner; all case management deadlines shall remain,” Younge said on April 9.
Paul Grierson of Philadelphia initially filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on May 22, 2018 (and an amended complaint on July 13) against Comcast Corporation, the City of Philadelphia and Cablenet Services.
(Verizon Communications was formerly a defendant in the case, but was dismissed on Sept. 5.)
“On or about Dec. 27, 2016, plaintiff was an invitee, licensee and/or otherwise legally on the premises [the 1700 block of South 4th Street], when, as a result of the negligence, recklessness and/or carelessness of the defendants, jointly and/or severally, plaintiff was caused to fall because of dangerous and/or defective cable wires that were improperly-secured, improperly-maintained and/or improperly-mounted on the premises,” the suit states, adding the plaintiff suffered a left knee lateral meniscus tear, lumbar herniations and a right toe sprain in the incident.
For 15 separate counts of personal injury, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorney’s fees, costs and any other relief the Court deems necessary.
The plaintiff is represented by Eli S. Levine of the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman, in Philadelphia.
The defendants are represented by Peter W. Baker of the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department, Harry C. Rogers IV and Steven P. Cholden of Bardsley Benedict & Cholden, also all in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 180502305
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com