Neftali Gomez vs. New Haven Solid Waste & Recycling Authority

Case Background

On February 17, 2022, Plaintiff Neftali Gomez filed a premises liability lawsuit in the Connecticut Superior Court, New Haven Judicial District (Case Number: NNH-CV23-6130341-S). The lawsuit arose from a workplace safety incident involving a defective railing at a transfer station managed by the New Haven Solid Waste and Recycling Authority. Judge Winston Kidd presided over the case.

Cause

On April 12, 2021, Neftali Gomez visited the transfer station at 260 Middletown Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut, as part of his duties for the City of New Haven Department of Public Works. The property, managed by the New Haven Solid Waste and Recycling Authority, included a transfer station platform with a railing near a machine that distributed transaction receipts. While Gomez stood on the platform, he stepped onto the railing, which suddenly gave way and collapsed. This unexpected incident caused him to fall, drawing attention to workplace safety concerns and raising questions about potential hazards on the premises. This workplace accident underscored the importance of regular inspections and maintenance at such facilities to prevent similar occurrences.

Injuries

The collapse of the defective railing caused severe injuries to