Elevator maintenance company sued after elevator plummets five stories with family inside

GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish family is suing an elevator maintenance company after the elevator they were riding in failed and fell.

Lorenza Davis and Shanie Miller, individually and on behalf of their minor daughter, filed suit against Carson Elevator LLC, Ventas Inc., American Zurich Insurance Company and their insurers in the 24th Judicial District Court on Dec. 13. Davis, Miller and their daughter claim they entered an elevator at Tulane Lakeside Hospital on the fifth floor maintained by the defendants and it abruptly fell five stories to the ground floor. The plaintiffs allege they were critically injured in the incident.

The defendant is accused of improper and faulty installation of the elevator, improper and faulty maintenance of the elevator, failure to inspect, failure to discover defects and repair them, negligent maintenance and negligent repairs.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medical expenses, mental pain and anguish, physical pain and suffering, disability, loss of earnings and loss of enjoyment of life.

The plaintiffs are represented by James E. Shields Sr. of Gretna-based Shields & Shields.

The case has been assigned to Division K Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach.

Case no. 722-082.