We represented a woman who fell into an exposed ramp behind an apartment building in Washington, DC. Our client had gone to an apartment building to visit a friend in the late afternoon/early evening. After discovering that her friend was not home, our client left via the rear exit of the apartment building. While walking on the rear walkway, our client fell into an unlit, exposed ramp that led down to the boiler room of the building. She sustained a severe fracture of her ankle that required multiple surgeries to repair. Her injuries forced her to use a walker or wheelchair on a permanent basis. We filed a lawsuit against the companies that owned and maintained the apartment building and the ramp area.

They denied liability on the basis that our client was not an invited guest, and that she should have seen the ramp. Through extensive investigations, we determined that our client was in fact an invited guest in the building. We also worked extensively with an expert witness to prove that not only was the ramp unlit at the time of the incident, but the surrounding area was insufficiently illuminated, and a handrail or guard around the ramp was required. After filing suit, taking numerous depositions, working with expert witnesses, and completing a private mediation, the case settled for $440,000.00.