Jury Award to Tenant Too High

January 1, 2000

LVT Number: 13769

Tenant sued landlord for negligence after she was injured when her bathroom ceiling fell down. The court ruled for tenant after a trial, and the jury awarded her $550,000. Landlord then asked for a new trial unless tenant agreed to a reduced award of $100,000. The court ruled for landlord, and tenant appealed. The appeals court ruled against tenant. While landlord had prior notice of the leaks in the bathroom ceiling and was responsible for tenant's injury, the original amount awarded was far greater than what would be reasonable compensation for the type of injury tenant suffered.

Tenant sued landlord for negligence after she was injured when her bathroom ceiling fell down. The court ruled for tenant after a trial, and the jury awarded her $550,000. Landlord then asked for a new trial unless tenant agreed to a reduced award of $100,000. The court ruled for landlord, and tenant appealed. The appeals court ruled against tenant. While landlord had prior notice of the leaks in the bathroom ceiling and was responsible for tenant's injury, the original amount awarded was far greater than what would be reasonable compensation for the type of injury tenant suffered.

Govan v. Ft. Sheri Realty Co.: NYLJ, p. 27, col. 6 (12/16/99) (App. Div.1 Dept.; Sullivan, JP, Nardelli, Wallach, Saxe, Friedman, JJ)

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