A tenant's life was turned upside down when a ceiling tile fell and struck him on the head, leading to severe injuries. On July 18, 2024, Jashe Thompson filed a complaint in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas against his landlord, Daniel P. Vigilante.
The incident occurred on July 23, 2023, at Thompson's residence located at 1164 Mulberry Street, Harrisburg, PA. According to the complaint, Thompson was standing inside his first-floor apartment when a ceiling tile suddenly fell from above and struck him on the head. The plaintiff claims that this incident resulted from Vigilante's negligence in maintaining the property. "It was the duty of the Defendant...to keep and maintain the residential premises...in a reasonably safe condition for persons lawfully upon the premises," reads the complaint.
Thompson alleges that Vigilante failed in multiple aspects of property maintenance which led to this dangerous situation. Specifically, he accuses Vigilante of neglecting to inspect and repair parts of the apartment interior, particularly areas affected by water damage and loose ceiling tiles. The complaint outlines several points of negligence including failing to identify defects such as water damage and loose ceiling tiles, not maintaining safe conditions for tenants, and not warning tenants about potential hazards.
As a result of this incident, Thompson has suffered severe injuries including cervical disc protrusion, lumbar spine ligament sprain, cervicalgia (neck pain), chest pain, back pain, dizziness, mental anxiety and anguish. These injuries have caused him great physical pain and suffering and have significantly impacted his ability to engage in usual activities. The complaint states that Thompson has incurred medical expenses for treatment and anticipates future costs related to ongoing care.
Moreover, Thompson claims that these injuries have resulted in loss of earnings or earning power both presently and potentially in the future. He also mentions that he may incur other financial expenses as he continues to seek treatment for his injuries.
In light of these grievances, Thompson is seeking judgment against Vigilante in an amount not exceeding $50,000. He aims to recover damages for medical expenses, lost earnings or earning power, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish as well as loss of enjoyment of life’s pleasures.
Representing Jashe Thompson are attorneys Brandon A. Swartz and Matthew E. Gallagher from Swartz Culleton PC based in Newtown, PA. The case has been assigned Case Number 2024-CV-04878 in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.