NEW ORLEANS – A woman claims that poor lighting caused her to fall when she fled a potential apartment fire at a New Orleans complex.
Yolanda Pepp-Scales filed a lawsuit June 6 against Eastlake development LLC, doing business as Hidden Lakes Apartments, Latter & Blum Property Management Inc. and Wilshire Insurance Co. in Orleans Parish Civil District Court alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was visiting the defendant's property at 6910 Morrison Road on Dec. 26, 2016, when the plaintiff's daughter, a tenant, heard someone yell "fire" and smelled smoke. The suit states that as the plaintiff was running out of the building, she fell two times due to inadequate lighting.
The defendant is accused of negligence by failing to provide a safe location for the visitors and overall negligence.
The plaintiff seeks all reasonable damages, court costs, attorney fees and all appropriate relief. The plaintiff is represented by attorney Darleen M. Jacobs in New Orleans.
The case has been assigned to Division J Judge Cherrell S. Taplin.
Orleans Parish Civil District Court case number 17-5448