Tenant who allegedly broke arm and injured shoulder in fall on wet slate sues landlord

GRETNA – A tenant is suing her landlord after she was allegedly injured in a fall in the building’s parking lot.

Carmela Cucchero filed suit against Gatehouse Properties LLC of New Orleans, Gatehouse Properties LLC and their insurer in the 24th Judicial District Court on Sept. 29.

Cucchero claims that on Dec. 1, 2013 she left her apartment owned by Gatehouse Properties and located at 314 E. Gatehouse Drive in Metairie and was walking across a recently installed slate walkway in the parking lot while the sprinklers were on. The plaintiff alleges that as she negotiated the walkway she slipped and fell on the slate that had been made wet by the sprinklers. Cucchero contends that she received severe injuries in the incident, including a shoulder injury and a fractured upper arm that required a medical procedure installing nine screws and a metal plate to repair.

The defendant is accused of pain and suffering, disability, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses and travel expenses.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for failing to have slip resistant walkways in place, failing to properly use the sprinkler system, failing to properly aim sprinklers in question and failing to properly light the area.

Cucchero is represented by Brian D. Katz of New Orleans-based Herman Herman & Katz LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division H Judge Glenn B. Ansardi.

Case no. 742-899.