PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania woman alleges that she was seriously injured, when she fell while traversing a rain-slicked plywood ramp connected to a trailer, on the premises of her partner’s employer.
Victoria Geis of Glassport filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on May 24 versus McGann & Chester, LLC, of Pittsburgh.
“At all times relevant and material hereto, the defendants operated, possessed, controlled, managed and/or maintained the premises located at 700 Hargrove Street, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA 15226. At all times relevant hereto, defendant operated its business as McGann & Chester Towing & Recovery out of the premises. At all times relevant and material hereto, the defendant had a duty to inspect maintain, repair, control, supervise and/or oversee the premises. At all times relevant and material hereto, defendant had a duty to warn of and correct any dangerous conditions thereon. At all times relevant and material hereto, the defendant acted by and through their agents, servants, employees, representatives, assignors, subsidiaries, predecessors and/or successors in interest,” the suit says.
“At all times relevant and material hereto, plaintiff’s long-term domestic partner was employed by defendant. On the aforesaid date and time, plaintiff with her long-term domestic partner was invited to attend a Medicare meeting on behalf of employees of defendant. On the aforesaid date and time, plaintiff was to attend the Medicare meeting in a trailer on the premises. On June 3, 2021, at approximately 11:03 a.m., plaintiff was lawfully on the premises as an invitee of the defendant. Prior to the June 3, 2021 meeting, defendant had placed a ramp constructed of plywood to allow access to defendant’s trailer.”
The suit adds that on the aforesaid date and time, it was raining and when the plaintiff stepped onto the plywood ramp to gain access to the trailer, she immediately fell – furthermore, that without the plaintiff’s knowledge, the plywood became slippery and as a result, the plaintiff slipped on the wet surface of the plywood ramp leading to the trailer entrance.
“Plaintiff was caused to fall as a result of the wet surface of the plywood and the excessive slope of the plywood ramp. At all times relevant and material hereto, there were no caution signs or other warnings in the area of the slippery condition of the ramp. At all times relevant and material hereto, no non-skid resistant material was placed on the plywood ramp leading to the trailer,” the suit states.
“Plaintiff was caused to fall as a result of coming into contact with the aforementioned defective conditions. At all times relevant and material hereto, defendant knew or should have known of the dangerous, hazardous, unsafe, and/or defective conditions that existed on the premises. At all times relevant and material hereto, defendant failed to take any steps to eliminate the hazard, reduce its danger to invitees, or to otherwise warn users, including plaintiff, of the dangerous, hazardous, unsafe and/or defective condition.”
For multiple counts of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants in excess of the jurisdictional limits of compulsory arbitration, together with court costs, interest and such other and further relief as this Honorable Court may deem just and equitable.
The plaintiff is represented by Mark F. McKenna of McKenna & Associates, in Pittsburgh.
The defendant has not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-23-006509
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com