A New York resident has filed a lawsuit against two federal courthouses, alleging negligence resulting in severe injury. Amina Hamidu submitted a complaint on October 24, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, naming the United States Federal Courthouse and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York as defendants.
The lawsuit is based on an incident on January 6, 2023, in which Hamidu claims she slipped and fell on the stairs at 500 Pearl Street, New York. The complaint, filed by her attorneys at Redmond Law Firm, PLLC, asserts that the defendants failed to maintain safe conditions on their property, specifically citing slippery stairs. Hamidu's complaint states that both defendants were responsible for managing and maintaining the premises, including inspecting and repairing potential hazards.
Hamidu attributes her fall to what she describes as "a hazardous, defective, dangerous and slippery" condition of the courthouse stairs, alleging the defendants knew or should have known about the hazard but allowed it to persist. She claims that this negligence led to severe injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment, with potential for future medical care.
Hamidu is seeking over $3 million in damages for her injuries and associated costs and has requested a jury trial in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b). Her claims rely on doctrines such as res ipsa loquitur, suggesting the nature of the accident implies negligence, and additional exceptions under CPLR §1602.
Hamidu is represented by Cornelius Redmond of Redmond Law Firm, PLLC, in New York City. The case has been filed under civil case 1:24-cv-07407-PK,