Brief Factual Summary: Plaintiff alleged that in January 2019, he slipped and fell on a trail of “garbage juice” on the hallway floor coming from a trash chute of a (Bushwick) NYCHA housing building. Plaintiff did not live in the building. As a result of the fall, plaintiff alleged significant injuries consisting of a left hip fracture which required open reduction internal fixation surgery. Plaintiff demanded $2 million. At trial a non-party NYCHA testified the plaintiff was drinking alcohol the night before and on the morning of the accident. The teenage son of the resident testified that he and the plaintiff were racing up and down the hallway when plaintiff fell. The son did not observe any wetness in the hallway. A NYCHA caretaker testified that she performed her janitorial duties and did not observe any hazardous conditions or wetness in the hallway. The matter was settled after closing statements and before the charge to the jury for $150k.
Robert Branch v. NYCHA- Index No.: 525864/2019 – Kings County Supreme