Summary Judgment Granted in Fall Down Steps Case

In the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas decision of Vasilik v. Voipoch, No. 2015-CV-904 (C.P. Leh. Co. June 7, 2016 McGinley, J.), the court entered summary judgment in favor of an out of possession landlord Defendant in negligence action involving a slip and fall on steps allegedly due to a lack of a handrail.    

In so ruling, the court noted that the language of the commercial lease permitted the landlord to make repairs but did not require him to do so.  

The court otherwise noted that the landlord did not undertake to make general repairs to the premises by previously installing a handicap ramp, paving the parking lot, installing landscaping, and/or installing a handrail between other floors as such improvements were note deemed to establish a general undertaking of property repair.  

Anyone wishing to review this decision may click this LINK.

Source:  “Court Summaries,” Pennsylvania Bar News (August 22, 2016) By Timothy L. Clawges.