SKETCHES OF COURT: Jury finds Transit Authority negligent in slip-and-fall trial

August 18, 2015 By Alba Acevedo Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Court sketch by Alba Acevedo

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In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Gloria Dabiri listens as Christopher Joslin (standing), of the law firm David Horowitz PC, conducts a direct examination of the plaintiff in the trial Sandra Watson v. New York City Transit Authority taking place in Kings County Civil Term. Court reporter Dianne Adkins-Forte (seated, center) transcribes the proceedings.

At issue in the bifurcated slip-and-fall trial is liability. In October 2010, the plaintiff alighted a B12 bus between Troy and Albany avenues via the rear exit, alleging that she dismounted at a distance from the curb, stepped into a pothole or depression, then lost her balance. Watson was unable to get back on her feet without assistance and was taken away by ambulance. She is claiming Transit Authority negligence in allowing her to disembark at a dangerous point.

Joslin is seen displaying the green hard-rubber-soled Dansko shoe that Watson was wearing at the time of the accident, to establish that his client was sporting sound footgear.

The defendant, represented by Moses Lachman (right), of counsel to Lawrence Heisler, Esq., challenged the jury to discern any dangerous or defective condition in the evidentiary photographs provided by both parties to the suit. Lachman maintained that Watson caused the accident through her own carelessness.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff after deliberating for more than a day, finding the Transit Authority negligent and that their negligence was a substantial factor in causing plaintiff’s accident.

The damages phase of the trial continues next month.