City sued over 'dangerous' manholes

The city of New Orleans is facing a lawsuit for failing to properly inspect manholes.

Krystilynn Williams filed suit against the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board, City of New Orleans and ABC Insurance Co. June 16 in Orleans Parish District Court.

Williams claims that she slipped and fell on an uprooted "manhole apparatus" on Casa Valvo Street in New Orleans in June 2009. Williams says she fell onto the concrete, injuring her back, knee, shoulder and leg.

Williams says the defendants maintained ownership of a "dangerous and defective" manhole, which was "unreasonably dangerous for its intended use."

The defendants are accused of breaching the duty "to provide its customers such as plaintiff with manholes that will not uproot and injure customers." They are also accused of negligence for failing to maintain, repair and properly inspect the manhole.

Williams is seeking damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, temporary loss of quality of life, temporary loss of earning capacity, interest and court costs.

Williams is represented by James Johnson of James P. Johnson and Associates in New Orleans.

Judge Ethel S. Julien is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2010-6156