Charles Stokes Obtains Non-Suit in High Exposure Philadelphia Premises Liability Case

On October 13, 2014, Charles Stokes obtained a non-suit in Austin v. Woodward Properties, a premises liability case in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The plaintiff claimed that she stepped on a partially-eaten slice of pizza on a greasy piece of wax paper causing her to fall down the steps of an apartment building owned and managed by the defendants. She allegedly sustained a traumatic brain injury with hemorrhage requiring hospitalization for four days and injuries to her knee requiring a knee replacement surgery . The future medical expenses claim exceeded $1,500,000. After three days of trial and the conclusion of the plaintiff’s proof, Mr. Stokes moved for a compulsory non-suit on the basis that the plaintiff failed to establish that the defendant had actual or constructive notice of the debris on which she claimed to have slipped. The trial judge granted the motion and dismissed the case.