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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.
Disabled Man Trapped in Disneyland’s ‘Small World’ Ride Awarded $8,000
Apparently, it was a small world for a 52-year-old paraplegic Los Angeles man who filed a lawsuit against Disneyland after he was stuck on the “Small World” ride for 30 minutes after the ride broke down. A Santa Ana jury recently awarded him $8,000 in damages as a result of the mishap.
According to the plaintiff’s attorney, his client had come to Disneyland in Anaheim with his wife for the first time since he was a child, and had been enjoying the day until he got on the “Small World” ride. When the ride broke down, everybody was evacuated, except for the plaintiff.
“They started evacuating other guests and weren’t evacuating him,” his attorney told The Los Angeles Times. They said they couldn’t move him out of the cave … They didn’t summon the Fire Department right away.”
During the time he was trapped on the ride, the repetitive “Small World” theme music continued to play. Once he was extricated, he needed medical assistance.
The jury awarded the disabled man $4,000 for pain and suffering and $4,000 related to disabled access violations. A Disneyland spokeswoman expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision and stated that the company felt it had provided “all appropriate assistance.”
The plaintiff’s attorney told the Times that his client had been enjoying the day at the park and access had not been an issue, until it “hit him hard and right in the face as soon as the ride broke down.”
It is a company’s duty to assure that their property is properly maintained so patrons do not suffer injuries while on the premises. Premises liability covers many different areas, including amusement park accidents. The Southern California amusement park accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand will provide the necessary resources you will need to successfully litigate a premises liability suit.
If you have questions about your legal options, we can be reached online or you can call us at our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022, or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530, for a free review of your case.