Case Background

This case stemmed from a sidewalk fall in the summer of 2023 in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Heather Socha Bahler, a resident, filed a personal injury lawsuit against Paramount Construction, LLC, a contractor performing roadwork at the intersection of Routes 32 and 190 under a contract with the State of Connecticut. The Plaintiff claimed she tripped over a broken steel signpost protruding from the sidewalk, which she believed the construction company failed to fix or mark.

The matter proceeded through a year of litigation before reaching trial in May 2025. A Hartford County jury eventually rendered a defence verdict in favour of Paramount Construction.

The cause that led to the events

The dispute arose from a fall that occurred on July 23, 2023. Bahler was walking along the sidewalk in front of Warren Memorial Town Hall near a rotary that was undergoing construction. As she approached a crosswalk, her foot caught a jagged steel post that had been left jutting from the sidewalk.

She argued that this condition existed due to the Defendant's failure to maintain the construction site safely. Her complaint alleged that Paramount Construction exercised control over the area and bore responsibility for preventing hazards to pedestrians.

Injuries suffered

Bahler suffered a left radial head fracture and abrasions to her hands from the fall. Medical evaluations also revealed injuries to soft tissues, along with nerve damage and muscle strain. The pain was immediate and persistent. According to her filings, the injuries affected her range of motion, caused ongoing discomfort, and disrupted her work and daily life.

She also described the inci