Liability
Court Finds an Unoccupied Two Family Home to Be a Residential Property for Purposes of Determining Liability for a Fall on Adjoining Public Sidewalk
Defendant Suresh Muthupandi bought a vacant two-family home, intending to rent out one of the dwellings in the building and, because he was having marital problems with his wife and wanted to separate from her, to move into the other dwelling. Before he could move in, in January 2014, the roof of the building collapsed. […]
Landlord Held Not Liable for Injuries Suffered by Commercial Tenant’s Employee When Tenant Responsible for Maintenance of Premises
The issue often arises as to who is responsible to an injured plaintiff when the plaintiff falls on leased property – the owner or the tenant? This issue was addressed in Caldas v. Janard Management Services, Inc., 2018 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 972 (App. Div. April 26, 2018). Plaintiff Juan Caldas was injured at work […]
Landlord May Be Liable to Tenant Injured in The Process of Changing Lightbulb in Ceiling Fixture in Common Hallway
Plaintiff Evelyn Delgado was injured while trying to change the lightbulb of the ceiling fixture in the entrance hallway leading to her apartment. She tried to change the lightbulb by standing on a stair, leaning over the banister. She lost her balance, fell to the floor, and injured her leg. The issue in Delgado v. […]
Plaintiff, as Trespasser to Property, Owed Minimal Duty of Care by Landowner
By: Charles F. Holmgren, Esq. Edited by: Betsy G. Ramos, Esq. The plaintiff injured himself when he tripped on an uncovered sewer drain in the parking lot of a doctor’s office across the street from his house. The plaintiff sued the owner of the property for his injuries, claiming the owner was negligent in failing […]
Church Found Not Liable for Fall on Public Sidewalk in Front of Vacant Church Property
Plaintiff Timothy Ellis fell on a public sidewalk in front of a vacant church owned by defendant Hilton United Methodist Church. Plaintiff argued that the church should be liable for his injuries suffered in the fall because its property should be deemed a “commercial” property for purposes of assessing liability. In the published decision of […]
Claims that Fall Under Employers Liability/Part B Coverage
Employers Liability insurance coverage is a “gap filler” coverage, providing protection to employers in situations where an injured employee has the right to bring a civil tort action for damages despite the provisions of the New Jersey workers’ compensation statute. Although N.J.S.A. 34:15-8 makes workers’ compensation the “exclusive remedy” for an injured employee, in which […]
Commercial Property Owner Unable to Obtain Dismissal for Fall on Black Ice
Plaintiff Cynthia Johnson was an employee of a tenant of the property owned by defendant Brandywine Operating Partnership, LP and Brandywine Realty Trust (“Brandywine”). She fell on black ice in the parking lot of Brandywine’s property and sued for her injuries. In Johnson v. Brandywine Operating Partnership, LP, 2017 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2857 (App. […]
Commercial Property Landlord Not Responsible for Injury of Tenant’s Invitee
Plaintiff Ben Jimenez was employed as a truck driver by Atlantic Freight Systems, Inc. (“AFS”) when he slipped and fell in the company yard during the course of his employment. The Defendants Stephen Powell and Concetta Powell (“Powells”) owned the commercial property where the accident occurred and leased the entire premises to their corporate entity […]
Catholic Cemetery Found Immune from Liability for Personal Injury Claim based Upon Charitable Immunity Act
Plaintiff, Gary Jack, and his wife Maureen had attended a funeral at the Calvary Cemetery. Maureen was pushing the plaintiff in a rolling walker, when the front wheels of his walker lodged in a crack in the asphalt, causing him to fall from the walker and break his wrist. In Jack v. Calvary Cemetery, 2017 […]
What Defenses Are Available to Public Entities for Falls on Public Sidewalks?
If a plaintiff is able to establish that it is the public entity who bears the responsibility for the condition of a public sidewalk which caused the plaintiff’s fall, the public entity may remain immune from liability based upon Tort Claims Act defenses. The public entity (municipality, county, or State) may defend on the basis […]
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