Renter sues homeowner after ceiling falls

A renter has filed a lawsuit against her landlord, claiming a piece of sheetrock from a ceiling fell on her.

Laconda Williams filed suit against Samer Rawashdeh and Nautilus Insurance Co. July 7 in Orleans Parish District Court.

Williams says she was in her neighbor's apartment in September 2009 when the sheetrock fell from the ceiling and hit her in the head. She says she suffered injuries to her neck and back.

Williams argues the defendant knew about problems with the sheetrock prior to this incident because pieces had fallen from the ceiling before.

"Defendant made some repairs to the ceiling but it was not sufficiently remedied despite Defendant having actual and/or constructive knowledge of the problem and subsequent thereto another portion of the ceiling in Plaintiff's adjacent apartment fell on her head and caused injuries to Plaintiffs neck and back," the lawsuit states.

The defendant is accused of failing to maintain the premises, failing to provide safe living quarters for tenants and failing to remedy a vice or defect which was known or should have been known prior to the injury in question.

Williams is seeking damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of enjoyment of life, court costs and interest.

Williams is represented by Irvy E. Cosse, III and Irvy E. Cosse, Jr. of Cosse and Cosse in New Orleans.

Judge Paulette R. Irons is assigned to the case

Case No. 10-6981