Paterson woman getting $35,000 after successful lawsuit against city over trip and fall incident

February 22, 2017

The city is paying $35,000 to a woman who tripped and fell on East 33^rd Street due to a “large and deep depression in the roadway around a circular metal cover.”

Janice McCurdie claimed in a lawsuit filed in the Passaic County Superior Court that she was walking to her car on East 33^rd Street between 19th and 20th Avenues on April 23rd, 2014 at about 8 a.m. when she tripped and fell.

McCurdie’s lawsuit states the city had prior “constructive notice” of the dangerous condition and had sufficient time to protect against it. She incurred $3,600 in medical expenses after the incident. She also sustained permanent loss of a bodily function and disfigurement, she claims in her lawsuit.

Council members agreed to settle the city woman’s claim in a special meeting on Tuesday night by paying $35,000. She will get $17,500 within the next 60 days and the remaining $17,500 on August 1^st, 2017, according to city records.

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Plumber

“large and deep depression in the roadway around a circular metal cover.” hope with her settlement she buy's a good set of glasses if she obviously didn't see a large depression, just looking for a pay day and as usual Paterson pay's out
- Bruce Ross
  
  It's people that has nothing to say that is good, now let say that was one of your family member would you open up your mouth then probably not the city get away cheap $35,000 is not a lot of money they need to repairs the whole damn city street and side walk.
  - Niall Conway
    
    I agree that the lady should be paid something but not as much as $35,000. The news report said $3,600 was sustained in medical bills. It is the responsibility of the city to repair its roads but its also people's responsibility to pay more attention to where they walk. This should have been investigated more. It might be possible that the woman was on her cellphone and not paying attention to her environment. If that was the case then I don't think the city should pay as much. The $35,000 being paid is taken from the tax payers so it is a lot of money especially in a city who is struggling with its budget and had to shut down cultural events and summer camp to keep afloat.
    
    There is even a news report today about the city being sued for $135,000 by a woman whose car was hit by a firefighter's car. In my youth, I was raised in Paterson riverside and our family car was hit by a police car. My father complained but wasn't given $135,000 for it. Now that I think about it maybe he should have hired a better lawyer.
    
    Anyway, if the city is constantly being sued then it also increases property taxes creating a negative economy and real estate market thus producing more blight and business exodus in an already strapped-for-cash city. That money could have been used towards historic preservation, business development, after school educational services, or drug rehab/homeless programs. Paterson has so much potential from its people, buildings, and culture.

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