Unsafe Railing Causes Catastrophic Injuries
On an early April evening, Jane Doe came to a friend’s condominium to have dinner. Before dinner Jane Doe and several guests went down to the beach to admire the ocean view. She was standing on the wooden platform of the beach stairs when the railing suddenly gave way plunging her more than 15 feet onto a hard-packed sand dune below. Jane Doe broke her back in five places.
The staircase was severely damaged after hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in September of 2004 and posed a serious safety hazard to residents and guests. Rather than obtain a local, experienced marine contractor, The Condominium Community agreed to hire a Board member’s out-of-state relative who was an unlicensed, unbonded and uninsured handyman. No permits were applied for or granted.
Back in 2001 these same beach stairs were replaced. Then Condominium Community retained an experienced, licensed and insured marine contractor who prepared drawings and pulled appropriate permits.
Jane Doe suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of Condominium Community’s negligence and complete disregard for the public’s safety. Jane Doe is still recovering from a complicated double laminectomy and L2-L5 fusion surgery.
Attorney Scott C. Murray settled the case for a confidential amount that will help offset his medical expenses, pain and suffering and loss of earnings.
