Christine P. Ries v. Ansley Walk Condominium Association, Inc. et al

Case Background

Christine Ries filed this premises liability lawsuit against Ansley Walk Condominium Association Inc. and Georgia Power Co. after she fell down the stairs due to poor lighting as a result of the broken lamppost. The lawsuit was filed in the Georgia State Court, Fulton County. Judge Myra Dixon presided over this case. [Case number: 22EV002832]

Cause

On October 21, 2020, Christine Ries, a 72-year-old economics professor, left her condominium at the Ansley Walk complex in Atlanta. As she walked down an external staircase, it was dark, and a nearby lamppost was not functioning. Without sufficient light, Ries misjudged her steps on the dimly lit stairs and fell. She suffered a hip injury as a result.

Ries later filed a lawsuit against Ansley Walk Condominium Association Inc. and Georgia Power Co. for premises liability. She argued that the broken lamppost created unsafe conditions that led to her fall. Georgia Power, responsible for maintaining the lamppost under a contract with Ansley Walk, was also named in the case. Ries claimed both parties bore responsibility for failing to address the hazard.

Injury

Ries stated that the fall shattered her left femur, which had already undergone a prior hip replacement. She underwent open reduction internal fixation surgery, during which screws were inserted to stabilize the injury. However, her recovery faced complications. A few months later, the metal plate used in the procedure broke, causing her femur to refracture.

As a result, Ries required revisions of both her hip replacement and the initial fixation surgery. The severity of her injuries was highlighted explaining that the fall left her with permanent mobility issues.

Damages

Ries struggled to walk long distances and relied on a cane for support. Ries sought damages for the injuries and medical expenses caused by the negligence of the Defendants.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Christine Ries
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Stanford N. Klinger | Jay Sadd | Michael Keller
  • Defendant(s): Ansley Walk Condominium Association Inc. and Georgia Power Co.
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): T. Joshua R. Archer | Jason William Hammer | Meghan Pieler | Joseph Larkin

Key Counsel Arguments

Plaintiff’s attorney, Jay Sadd argued that the Defendants’ negligence had caused lasting harm to Ries, who had lived in the Ansley Walk complex for nearly 20 years. He urged the jury to consider how the incident had permanently altered her quality of life.

Claims

Ries argued that Ansley Walk was responsible for her injuries because the fall occurred on a common stairwell maintained by the condominium. The complaint also claimed that Georgia Power knew the lamppost light was out and needed repair before the incident.

According to the Plaintiff, a week before the fall, another resident informed property managers about the hazardous condition caused by the broken lamppost. The complaint further alleged that Georgia Power received a similar notice around the same time. It stated that seven days before the fall, Ansley Walk contacted Georgia Power to request repairs to the unlit lamppost.

During the trial, the Plaintiff’s attorneys focused on the Defendants’ knowledge of the hazard and their delay in addressing it. Evidence uncovered during the discovery showed that the property owner knew the lights had been out for up to 13 days.

The Plaintiff also noted that Ansley Walk had informed Georgia Power about the issue, but there was significant disagreement over whether and when Georgia Power received the notice. The Plaintiff argued that the Defendants’ failure to act promptly contributed to the unsafe conditions that led to the fall.

Defense

In a consolidated pretrial order, Ansley Walk disputed responsibility for the fall in this premises liability lawsuit and claimed that it was not responsible for the Plaintiff’s fall. Instead, Ansley Walk blamed the Plaintiff, Georgia Power, and nonparty Reaves Construction. Reaves had repaired the staircase seven years earlier but had failed to recommend or install a handrail at that time.

The defense claimed that any hazards related to the staircase were open and obvious, and the Plaintiff had equal knowledge of them. It argued that the Plaintiff failed to avoid the consequences of any alleged negligence by Ansley Walk. The defense also pointed out that the Plaintiff had used the staircase about 20 minutes before the fall, which it argued should prevent recovery.

The brief further stated that if the broken lamppost was found to have caused the Plaintiff’s fall, Georgia Power should bear responsibility. Ansley Walk maintained that it had notified Georgia Power about the issue by at least October 16, 2020. If Georgia Power had followed its own policy of repairing the light within three business days, the light would have been fixed by the night of October 21, 2020, before the Plaintiff’s fall.

Jury Verdict

After four days of trial, the jury delivered a verdict on the parties’ liability. On August 23, 2024, the jury in Fulton County State Court found Ansley Walk 70% responsible for Ries’ injuries. They assigned 5% liability to Georgia Power. Additionally, the jury allocated 12.5% liability to Ries and 12.5% to nonparty Reaves Construction.

The jury awarded Ries $8.5 million in damages in this premises liability case. Following the verdict, the court granted Ries’ motion for prejudgment interest.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com