LANCASTER – A local woman claims that her former landlord’s negligence resulted in the ceiling of her prior domicile collapsing on her, due to that landlord’s failure to repair a leak in her living room ceiling.
Patricia Scott filed suit in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 5 versus Huyard Properties, LLC. Both parties are of Lancaster.
“The facts and occurrences hereinafter related took place on March 6, 2021, at or about 10:30 a.m. in the living room at the premises. At that time and place, the premises and improvements thereon, were owned by defendant Huyard Properties, LLC. At that time and place, plaintiff was a tenant who resided at the premises through a lease agreement with defendant Huyard Properties, LLC,” the suit said.
“Beginning in 2020, water began leaking from the ceiling in plaintiff’s living room to the extent that buckets needed to be placed to catch the leaking water and cracks began to form in the ceiling. Plaintiff reasonably believes that the leak in her living room ceiling emanated from upstairs in her rental property. Plaintiff notified defendant via telephone and text messaging on several occasions prior to March 6, 2021, about the leak in her living room ceiling, specifically to a Dave Huyard.”
The suit adds that though representatives of the defendant came to the plaintiff’s residence, they both allegedly did not see the leak and made no attempt to repair it, which constituted negligence on their part.
“At or about that time and place, plaintiff was in her living room and on the couch in front of the television, when the ceiling collapsed on her as a result of the leak. As a result of the defendant’s negligence, plaintiff suffered painful and severe injuries to her nerves, bones and soft tissues, which include but are not limited to, left and right knee injuries. By reason of the aforesaid injuries suffered by plaintiff, she has suffered a heightened possibility that she will suffer other or additional injury in the future, and claim is made therefore,” the suit states.
For a count of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking judgment and damages in excess of $50,000, exclusive of interest, costs and in excess of any jurisdictional amount requiring compulsory arbitration.
The plaintiff is represented by Jonathan R. Schnaars of Freeburn & Hamilton, in Harrisburg.
The defendant has not yet secured legal counsel.
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas case CI-22-06132
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com