Landlord Must Pay $1 Million for Tenant's Fall

April 30, 1995

LVT Number: 9662

Tenant sued landlord after being injured in his apartment. Tenant slipped and fell in his bathroom during the night as a result of water that had leaked onto the floor. Tenant sustained a back injury requiring surgery. A jury found tenant to be only one percent responsible and awarded him almost $6,000,000 for pain and suffering and loss of earnings. Landlord then asked the court to set aside the verdict or grant a new trial, at least on the amount of damages. The court reduced the damages to $1,000,000. This was the amount that tenant had asked for and it was reasonable compensation.

Tenant sued landlord after being injured in his apartment. Tenant slipped and fell in his bathroom during the night as a result of water that had leaked onto the floor. Tenant sustained a back injury requiring surgery. A jury found tenant to be only one percent responsible and awarded him almost $6,000,000 for pain and suffering and loss of earnings. Landlord then asked the court to set aside the verdict or grant a new trial, at least on the amount of damages. The court reduced the damages to $1,000,000. This was the amount that tenant had asked for and it was reasonable compensation. Tenant no longer received medical care for the injuries and took only nonprescription painkillers. And, although he claimed he was no longer able to work as a hairdresser, he admitted that he had sometimes worked off the books since the accident.

Polipo v. Sanders: NYLJ, p. 30, col. 4 (4/24/95) (Civ. Ct. Bronx; Burstein, J)

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