Pontchartrain Oak Apartments sued by tenant struck by light fixture

NEW ORLEANS – An occupant of a local apartment complex is suing his landlord claiming he was injured after a light fixture fell on him.

Rudolph Franklin filed a lawsuit against Pontchartrain Oak Apartments, Pop Hayne Limited and QBE Specialty Insurance Company in the Orleans Parish Central District Court on Feb. 24.

Franklin alleges a kitchen light fixture fell from the ceiling and struck him on the head and face injuring his eyes, head, neck, upper and lower back and left shoulder.

The defendant is accused of failing to maintain the overall premises, failing to secure the light fixtures in the apartment unit, failing to warn of the danger existing in the plaintiff’s unit and failing to take precautions to avoid the accident.

The plaintiff is seeking compensation for severe physical pain, emotional distress, embarrassment, medical expenses and loss of earnings.

Counsel for the plaintiff is Daryl A. Gray of New Orleans-based Gray Nguyen Law Group PLLC.

This case has been assigned to Division I Judge Piper D. Griffin.

Case no. 2013-01716.