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Dealing with Mudslides
After intense California wildfires in 2017, Santa Barbara County suffered another disaster on January 9, 2018, when mudslides devastated the coastal community of Montecito. At least 21 people were killed and hundreds of homes and businesses destroyed. Highway 101 was shut down for 10 days, and thousands of residents were deeply affected by the tragedy and loss of income.
As Montecito residents, we mourn the loss and are offering free legal consultation to those affected.
Be Wary of Premises Liability During the Holidays
Most holiday shoppers hope for bargains and deals when they think of the local malls and shopping centers. During this busy time of year the reality is that not all retail establishments take adequate precautions to protect the safety and security of their clientele and visitors.
Jury Awards Nearly $800,000 in Santa Barbara Premises Liability Case
In March of this year, Reneé J. Nordstrand helped a client gain a favorable jury verdict in a case in which the client was harmed in a trip-and-fall accident. The woman tripped over a raised brick adjacent to an inadequately lit walkway in a Santa Barbara apartment complex. As a result, the woman fell and broke her left hip.
The fall and injury resulted in severe medical consequences for the client, who suffered four hip dislocations during the course of recovery and had to undergo three hip surgeries, including a partial hip replacement.
Ms. Nordstrand contended — and was able to prove — that the property owners had violated several building codes. That led the jury to conclude that those violations had most likely contributed directly to the woman’s fall and injury. The jury consequently awarded the client a total of $794,380.61. The award was reduced by 74% because the jury found that the client was under the influence of narcotic medications at the time of the fall.
Community Celebrates New Fence Near Isla Vista Cliffs
A section of an Isla Vista bluff at Walter Capps Park may have just gotten safer for members of the community.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony that involved Santa Barbara County officials, members of the community, students from UC Santa Barbara and park personnel, a 390-foot fence at the park was officially unveiled. The hope is that the fence, which now provides a barrier between the public park and the cliffs overlooking the ocean, will help stymie a rash of falls that have left people injured or dead over the years.
Supervisor for the 3rd District, Doreen Farr, was at the unveiling and said that this last cliff barrier to be installed on Isla Vista public land was “a long time coming.” The project was collaboration between private groups, the UCSB Associated Students, the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District and Santa Barbara County parks. Private funding and donations were obtained to complete the project that had been stalled for several years.
This news comes on the heels of the death of a UC Santa Barbara student from Santa Rosa who reportedly fell to her death from an Isla Vista bluff last month following the break-up of a “Deltopia” party.
The property liability attorneys at the Law Office of Reneé J. Nordstrand applaud the erection of the fence designed to protect the public from falls that can result in serious injuries and death. One has to wonder, as the Supervisor for the 3rd District noted, why it took so long to happen.
Whether it is public or private land, it is a property owner’s responsibility to ensure that property is free from hazards that can result in injuries or death. If you believe you have suffered an injury, or if a loved one has been lost, due to a property owner’s negligence, you should contact us for a consultation and review of your legal options.
We can be reached at our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. You can rely on our years of experience for sure-handed guidance to protect your legal rights.
UCSB Student Files Lawsuit in ‘Deltopia’ Balcony Collapse
A 21-year-old University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) student, who was injured after a balcony collapsed at a fraternity house during a Deltopia street party, has filed a negligence and liability lawsuit against the owner and the property manager of the residence.
The lawsuit claims that the student, a UCSB senior from Los Angeles, suffered a fractured pelvis when the balcony collapsed on her from above. At least 20 people were on the balcony when it failed and fell to the ground.
The suit contends that the property management company, Ronald Wolfe and Associates, and the Elliot Family Trust, which owns the property, knew there were long-standing problems with wood rot and termites in the balcony, but did nothing to rectify the problem. The student’s attorney told NoozHawk.com that the collapse of the balcony “wasn’t a question of if, but when.”
Reportedly, the young woman is still healing from her injuries and cannot work at her job as a lifeguard at the university. While the exact dollar amount the lawsuit is seeking has not been revealed, NoozHawk reports that the student’s medical bills have already surpassed $25,000 and that she has no medical insurance.
The property was insured and the plaintiff’s attorney speculates that many of those injured in the balcony collapse may have already signed agreements with the insurance company for small amounts of cash without realizing how serious their injuries may be.
“At the end of the day, we just want [our client] to be taken care of,” he told Noozhawk.
Have you suffered an injury caused by dangerous property conditions? The premises liability attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand stand ready to represent you whether you have been injured at a private home, at a business or on public property. We are dedicated to getting you fair compensation for your injuries.
Do you have questions about your legal rights or how to continue with your case? Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. You don’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
Balcony Collapses during ‘Deltopia’ Party in Isla Vista, Four Injured
A wood balcony that reportedly was holding 20 people collapsed in Isla Vista, sending four people to the hospital. The premises accident victims were gathered at a residence as part of a massive “Deltopia” street bash that takes place to mark the start of University of California, Santa Barbara’s spring quarter.
Noozhawk.com reports that those injured in the balcony collapse were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Officials confirm that two of the victims were being treated for back injuries and another was treated for a severe cut. It was not reported what the fourth person was being treated for. Currently, there is no word as to the current state of the balcony collapse victims.
The student-organized “Deltopia” sprang from “Floatopia,” which was held on Isla Vista beaches. Santa Barbara officials shut down access to the shoreline for the unofficial “Floatopia” event in 2010 when it was determined that there were no provisions for sanitation or refusing entry to ensure the public safety of the massive party, which was attended by thousands of students.
“Floatopia” was then moved to Del Playa Drive and the event name was changed to “Deltopia.” The party was held at a residence on the 600 block of Del Playa Drive where the balcony collapsed. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
Injuries that are caused by dangerous property conditions or a property owner’s failure to properly maintain a private residence, business, or other institution may fall under the auspices of “premises liability.” If you have been personally injured due to the negligence of a property manager, protect your legal rights and contact a premise liability attorney at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand. Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 to learn more about compensation for your losses.