Charles Walsh v. City of Hartford Et Al

  • Court: Connecticut State,  Hartford JD, Superior Court
  • Case number: HHD-CV20-6127224-S
  • Filed: April 23, 2020
  • Judge: Hon Sheila Huddleston
  • Case type: T12 – Torts – Defective Premises – Public – Other

Parties Involved

  • Plaintiff: Charles Walsh
    • Counsel for Plaintiff:  Weber & Rubano LLC 
  • Defendant: City of Hartford
    • Counsel for Defendant: Hartford Corporation Counsel

Verdict Information

  • Verdict date: May 1, 2024
  • Total damages awarded to Plaintiff: $0.00

About the Case

Cause

City of Hartford, the defendant, a municipal corporation, owned, maintained, controlled, and possessed Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut.

On April 24, 2018, around 11:00 AM, plaintiff Charles Walsh was walking on the sidewalk of Charter Oak Avenue. Suddenly, as he stepped into the roadway, he tripped and fell due to debris covering the road. The plaintiff exercised reasonable care at all relevant times. It was claimed that the defective roadway solely caused the plaintiff’s personal injuries and losses. It was claimed that this dangerous condition had existed before the incident, and the defendant, through its agents or employees, knew or should have known about it in time to fix it but failed to do so. The plaintiff filed a defective premises case against the defendant on April 23, 2020. The complaint alleged that the defendant’s breach of statutory duty to properly maintain the roadway was the proximate cause of the incident and resulting injuries.

Injury

As a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s negligence, the plaintiff allegedly suffered serious and painful personal injuries, some possibly permanent. These injuries included but were not limited to injury to the right ankle, causing physical pain and suffering.

The defendant’s negligence directly and proximately caused the plaintiff to incur present and future medical expenses for care and treatment, including X-rays, diagnostic testing, medication, treatment, and therapy. These expenses caused and will continue to cause financial loss and damage to the plaintiff. Additionally, the plaintiff allegedly experienced mental anguish, frustration, and anxiety due to being injured. He was also unable to attend to his occupational duties, resulting in further financial loss and damage.

Damages

The plaintiff sought money damages exceeding $15,000 and requested compensatory damages. Additionally, they prayed for any other relief deemed appropriate by the court for the injuries and damages incurred due to the disputed incident.

Jury Verdict

On May 1, 2024, a Connecticut jury found in favor of the defendant, the City of Hartford, awarding no damages to the plaintiff. On the same day, Judge Sheila Huddleston entered a final judgment upholding the jury’s verdict, thereby disposing of this defective premises case.

Court Documents:

Complaint

Jury Verdict