A personal-injury lawsuit alleges the Dearborn Community Housing Inc. failed to make necessary repairs of its property.
According to a nine-page lawsuit filed on Aug. 26, a former tenant of the two-story brick apartments, Aleta King, 77, of Smithville, sustained injuries allegedly caused through the negligence and carelessness of the Dearborn Community Housing Inc.
The petition for damages alleges King was walking on the front entry deck to her apartment when she tripped over a raised board on the deck that was protruding over an inch above the walking surface and “flew into the railing.”
As a result of the incident, King allegedly sustained “severe and permanent injuries” to her left hand, left wrist, left arm, toes and left ankle. Injuries to her left hand and left foot required surgery and healthcare services, according to the lawsuit.
King received no warning and did not suspect the deck was hazardous, the suit says. King relied on the Dearborn Community Housing’s experience in the “maintenance, repairs and inspection of the property” and “trusted its knowledge and expertise.”
The plaintiff’s attorney, James Deffet, asserts Dearborn Community Housing was responsible for the maintenance of the rental property and “possessed knowledge or skill superior to that of an ordinary person,” thus should have taken action to remedy the hazardous situation.
The lawsuit alleges Dearborn Community Housing “failed to maintain the deck in a safe condition,” failed to warn its tenant of the potentially dangerous condition and failed to reasonably inspect the walkway.
The suit alleges due to the landlord’s negligence, King is entitled to receive compensation for their alleged wrongdoing.