Case Background
The case involved a lawsuit brought by Belinda Owusu Ansah, a home health aide from New Britain, against Old Middletown Preservation Associates LP, the owner of an apartment complex in Middletown, Connecticut.
On the morning of September 9, 2019, Ansah went to the Old Middletown High Apartments on Court Street to visit a tenant she cared for. As she stepped off an elevator onto the third floor around 7:10 a.m., she said she tripped on an uneven gap between the elevator floor and the hallway floor. She fell forward and landed hard, suffering multiple injuries.
Her lawsuit accused the property owner of negligence and recklessness in failing to keep the elevator safe.
Cause
Ansah claimed the accident happened because the elevator regularly stopped short of the hallway floor, leaving a dangerous gap. She alleged the owner knew of the defect and ignored it. According to her, the company failed to maintain the elevator, failed to inspect it properly, and allowed tenants and visitors to use it even though it posed a hazard.
Injury
Ansah said the fall caused serious injuries:
Trauma to her right hand.
Injuries to her left leg, knee, and thigh.
Permanent scarring on her left leg.
Ongoing pain and suffering, both physical and emotional.
She also said her injuries affected her muscles, ligaments, nerves, joints, and bones. In her complaint, she noted that the fall left her with lasting anxiety, frustration, and limits on her daily activities. She feared her injuries could worsen in the future.
Damages
Ansah sought more than $15,000 in damages. She asked for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, permanent scarring, pain and suffering, and her reduced ability to enjoy daily life. She also requested punitive damages, claiming the Defendant acted recklessly by allowing the elevator to stay in disrepair as a cost-saving measure.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Plaintiff’s Claims
The Plaintiff’s case focused on the unsafe condition of the elevator. She argued that the owner:
Failed to repair or service the elevator.
Allowed a known hazard to remain.
Ignored reports that the elevator often stopped unevenly.
Put cost savings above tenant and visitor safety.
Her lawyers described the elevator as a trap that the Defendant knew about yet chose to leave unfixed. They claimed the negligence directly caused her injuries and long-term harm.
Defense Claims
Old Middletown denied responsibility. In its formal answer, the company said it lacked knowledge of the exact conditions Ansah described and left her to prove them. It also raised special defenses:
Ansah was negligent herself by not watching where she was stepping.
She failed to avoid the condition even though a careful person could have.
Any injuries were partly or wholly her own fault.
If liability existed, her share of negligence should reduce or bar her recovery.
The defense maintained that the elevator was not unreasonably dangerous, and that Ansah’s fall resulted from her own inattention.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Belinda Owusu Ansah
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Kevin C. Ferry | Cara T. Callari | Monique S. Foley
· Experts for Plaintiff(s): Matthew Lundquist | Michael Kuhn | Ryan A. Naujoks | Scott A. Bissell | Andrea Stekl | Robert A. Stanton | James M Matern | Michael E Carlton | Mitesh Trivedi | Johnathan Lerner | Jonathan Perrotti | Patrick A. Carrajat | William Seymour
Defendant(s): Old Middletown Preservation Associates LP
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Cassandra L. Sanchez | Angeline N. Ioannou
· Experts for Defendant(s): Patrick J. McPartland
Claims
Plaintiff’s counsel argued that Ansah was a lawful visitor and had every right to expect a safe property. They emphasized that she was there in a professional capacity, providing care for a tenant. The lawyers told the jury that Old Middletown allowed a defective elevator to remain in service, exposing residents and visitors to harm. They described her fall as predictable and preventable, blaming management’s negligence and disregard for safety.
Defense
Defense counsel countered that the building’s elevator was in working order and that no prior incident proved it unsafe. They painted Ansah as inattentive and careless. They insisted the property owner took reasonable steps to maintain the building, and that Ansah’s own lack of attention caused her fall.
Jury Verdict
On December 19, 2023, the jury returned its verdict. They were given two choices: rule for the Plaintiff and assign liability and damages, or rule for the Defendant.
The jury ruled in favor for the Defendant, Old Middletown Preservation Associates LP, and against the Plaintiff, Belinda Owusu Ansah.
Court Documents
