Jury Clears Landlord in Tenant Attic Collapse Case

Case Background

The case of Prakaido Hoets v. Ferris Avenue Holdings, LLC arose from an accident on October 9, 2017, inside a residential building located at 37 Ferris Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut. Hoets, who lived lawfully on the property, entered the attic to place items in storage. While doing so, part of the attic floor collapsed beneath her. Her leg and foot plunged through the ceiling into the room below, leaving her injured and shaken.

Hoets alleged that the collapse resulted from the landlord’s failure to maintain the property safely. She argued that Ferris Avenue Holdings, LLC, which owned and managed the premises, ignored building code requirements and failed to keep the attic floor structurally sound. On July 23, 2019, she filed a complaint demanding damages for her physical injuries, medical expenses, and the disruption the accident caused in her life.

Cause

The lawsuit centred on negligence. Hoets claimed the company failed in several key duties: proper maintenance of the attic, timely inspection of the structure, and compliance with building codes. She argued the attic floor could not bear the weight of someone walking across it, even though tenants naturally used the space for storage.

Her complaint listed specific failures: not repairing dangerous conditions, not posting warnings, not erecting barriers to prevent use of unsafe areas, and ignoring Connecticut Building Code requirements for load-bearing capacity.

Injury

The fall caused Hoets a long list of injuries. She suffered a keloid scar and nerve damage in her right leg, along with contusions, herniated discs, and femoral nerve neuropathy. She also experienced calcified hematomas, swelling, bruising, and tenderness in her leg.

Beyond the leg injuries, she endured back pain, foot pain, calf pain, knee discomfort, irregular gait, scarring, and reduced mobility. Her sleep patterns were disturbed, and she reported both mental and physical suffering. Doctors documented an exacerbation of her pre-existing sciatica and back condition, which worsened because of the fall.

Damages

Hoets said the accident