An Odessa woman has filed a lawsuit against the City of Odessa claiming the city improperly installed a manhole cover and she fell and injured herself as a result.
According to the lawsuit, Patsy Casas tripped and fell as she was leaving her job on the “defendant’s premises” at 4101 E. 42nd Street on July 20, 2020.
Casas was injured and is now seeking $200,000-$1 million in monetary damages, the lawsuit states. Casas’ attorney, Jon Hanna, states in the lawsuit that the city failed to maintain the manhole cover in a “reasonably safe condition” and failed to give “adequate and understandable” warnings to Casas that the manhole cover was in an “unreasonably dangerous condition.”
Casas is seeking damages for medical, hospital and pharmaceutical expenses, physical and mental pain, physical impairment, disfigurement and lost wages.
According to the lawsuit, if it’s proven Casas suffered from a pre-existing condition, the plaintiffs intend to show her condition was aggravated or exacerbated by the city’s “negligence.”
Daniel C. Jones, a senior assistant city attorney, said he doesn’t believe the city has been served with the lawsuit.
“Therefore, since it is pending litigation I cannot discuss the matter,” he said via email.
