Visitor seeks $600k from Kone, Louisiana Med Center after trip in elevator

A Louisiana hospital visitor has filed a personal injury lawsuit for more than $600,000 after she tripped walking out of the elevator.

Claiming she is suffering permanent injuries, Alinda Kolb filed suit against Kone Inc. and Louisiana Medical Center and Heart Hospital on June 1 in federal court in New Orleans.

The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 17, 2010 as Alinda Kolb was visiting a patient at the Louisiana Medical Center & Heart Hospital. Kolb states that she was injured when she attempted to walk from the elevator and she tripped due to the difference in elevation from the elevator floor and the lobby floor. She injured her left arm, shoulder and neck.

Defendant Kone is accused of negligence for placing an unreasonably dangerous elevator into use, for defectively designing and construction the elevator and for providing inadequate warnings of the platform's unreasonably dangerous characteristics.

Louisiana Medical Center is accused of negligence for failing to properly maintain the
elevator, failing to have the elevator repaired despite notice of the fact that it was not coming flush with the floor and for failing to take the elevator out of service until it could be repaired despite notice that it was malfunctioning.

The plaintiff is asking for more than $600,000 in damages for pain and suffering, disability and mental anguish, lost income, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, interest and court costs.

Kolb is represented by William R. Mustian, III of Stanga & Mustian PLC in Metairie.

U.S. District Judge Martin L. C. Feldman is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-01307