MEDIA – A Delaware County woman says she has suffered a broken right wrist and permanent damage, as a result of negligent maintenance and facilities oversight at a local township-owned skating rink.
Jennifer Coyle of Media filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 13 versus the Township of Haverford.
“On Feb. 18, 2019, at approximately 1:10 p.m., the plaintiff was a guest and business invitee of the defendant, and skating during a ‘public skate.’ During the public skate at the Skatium on Feb. 18, 2019, plaintiff slipped and fell due to improper maintenance of the ice surface, which was substandard and hazardous, due to the amount of people who had been skating that day and the lack of timely clearing and cleaning of the ice surface,” the suit states.
“The accident resulted solely from the negligent and careless conduct of the defendant named herein, and was due in no part nor manner whatsoever of any act or failure to act on the part of the plaintiff.”
According to the plaintiff, she suffered a number of serious injuries in the process.
“Solely as a result of the defendant’s negligence and careless conduct, plaintiff, Jennifer Coyle has suffered, yet suffers, and may in the future suffer injuries which may are severe, serious, and permanent in nature, including but not limited to: A fractured right wrist with surgery and scarring, which has left plaintiff with permanent scarring, decreased sensation, decreased strength, numbness in the right wrist and arm, and plaintiff may well have suffered injury to other parts of her body, and internally into her nerves and nervous system, as well as possible aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation, or activation of any pre-existing illness or condition which she may have had,” per the suit.
“As a result of the aforesaid, plaintiff, Jennifer Coyle, has been and may in the future be required to expend various sums of money for medical care and treatment in an endeavor to effectuate treatment and care of the aforesaid injuries and/or such other items of expense which have been incurred or which will be incurred and ascertained in the future.”
For a count of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus a trial by jury.
The plaintiff is represented by Scott D. Bonebrake of Noel & Bonebrake, in Pittsburgh.
The defendant has not yet secured legal counsel.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case CV-2021-000318
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com