A woman who allegedly suffered injuries to her back, hand, left leg and left shoulder after tripping in a Hoffman Estate parking lot is suing multiple individuals and organizations, including AT&T, Harper College, a property manager and a record title owner. The lawsuit, which was filed on Oct. 29, 2012, claims that an overhead light turned off at 5:45 a.m. while the woman was walking from the parking lot to the building, causing her to trip on an uneven walkway.
According to the claim, the property on which the accident took place was leased from a record title owner to AT&T, and the property has been or will be purchased by Harper College. Allied Barton Security Services, a firm hired by either AT&T or the record title owner, is also a defendant in this case.
Because of the alleged improper lighting and poorly maintained sidewalks, the defendants are being accused of negligence. The Illinois woman has obtained legal representation and is seeking more than $30,000 in compensation for damages.
In a situation such as this, the main factor determining the outcome of the case is whether or not the plaintiff can prove the defendants are guilty of negligence. Slippery entrances, lack of warning signs and products stacked in an unsafe manner are all examples of how individuals and organizations can be negligent. If it is proven in a court of law that the defendants are guilty of negligence or a pre-trial settlement results in a favorable outcome for the plaintiff, substantial recompense might be awarded.
Source: The Cook County Record, “Woman blames AT&T, others for trip in Hoffman Estates parking lot”, Annie Cosby, November 13, 2014