SCRANTON — A woman who allegedly suffered multiple injuries when an elevator she was riding on at Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs Hospital plummeted several floors is claiming the negligence of two elevator companies.
Dennelle Ripka and John Ripka, Jr., filed a complaint Aug. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation and TK Elevator Corporation alleging negligence and other claims.
The plaintiffs allege in their complaint that on Aug. 9, 2019, Dennelle Ripka entered an elevator on the fourth floor of the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs Hospital while attempting to return to her office on the ninth floor.
They claim that the elevator stopped at the eighth floor and then suddenly "rapidly plummeted" down to the fifth floor before coming to a stop.
The plaintiffs further claim that Dennelle Ripka suffered a shoulder sprain, rotator cuff injury, injury to her spine, neck and other parts of her body which has caused hand numbness, headaches and anxiety. The Ripkas allege that the defendants "were on notice" that the elevator had been malfunctioning since 2015, and were negligent for "consciously choosing" not to maintain, inspect and adequately repair the elevator. They further allege the defendants failed to warn of the hazard.
The Ripkas seek monetary relief of more than $75,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Myer Messinger of Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC in Kingston.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 3:21-CV-01360-MEM