Thomas A. Montiglio was successful in obtaining a defense verdict in the case of Surujnaraine v. Valley Stream Central High School District, Nassau County 2012 – Defense Verdict – Case involved a 70-yr. old woman who tripped and fell while walking outside of the high school auditorium at 10 pm after leaving her granddaughter’s concert. She fell over a single step which she claimed she did not see. She also testified that the lighting was not good enough to see where she was going and the crowd obscured her view of the step. The expert for the plaintiff testified that single steps should be avoided or there should have been a sign or handrail there to alert people to the single step. Plaintiff’s expert also measured the light in the evening and testified that it was deficient. The defense expert testified that the step was code compliant, presented no tripping hazard and that the lighting was sufficient. The jury returned a verdict of no negligence on behalf of the School District.
