$525,000 Stairwell Fall Settlement in Manhattan

The stairwell at 75 LaSalle Street in Manhattan was covered in debris and litter. Our client was going up the stairs when his foot slipped on the dirty surface and he fell. A building owner who couldn't be bothered to sweep the stairs created the conditions for a fall that caused serious injuries.

Stairwell Fall at 75 LaSalle Street in Manhattan

Our client was climbing the stairs at 75 LaSalle Street in Manhattan — his own residential building — when he slipped and fell on debris and litter that had accumulated on the stairwell surface. Stairwells require clean, clear surfaces because the act of climbing or descending stairs demands traction and stable footing at every step. When debris, litter, or other foreign materials accumulate on stair treads, they reduce the friction between a shoe and the step surface, creating conditions where a slip or trip becomes likely.

Rather than wait for the elevator, our client had chosen to take the stairs — a reasonable decision in any residential building. The fall on the debris-covered steps caused injuries that required medical evaluation and an extended course of treatment. Stairwell falls are particularly dangerous for older adults because the body's ability to catch itself diminishes with age, and the resulting impact forces are absorbed by bones and joints that are more vulnerable to fracture and structural damage.

Building Owner's Duty to Maintain Clean Stairwells

Building owners in New York City have a legal obligation to maintain common areas — including stairwells — in a clean and safe condition. The New York City Housing Maintenance Code requires regular cleaning of stairways in residential buildings. Debris and litter on stairwell surfaces represent a recognized slip-and-fall hazard that building owners are legally required to prevent through routine cleaning and maintenance. The condition of the stairs at 75 LaSalle Street fell well below the standard required by law.

Our attorneys investigated the building's cleaning schedule, maintenance logs, and any prior complaints about stairwell conditions. The evidence established that debris and litter had been allowed to accumulate on the stairwell to a degree that made the surface unsafe for normal use — and that the building owner knew or should have discovered the condition through routine inspection. The failure to clean the stairwell was a direct breach of the building owner's duty to maintain safe conditions for tenants and visitors.

"He lived in the building. He took the stairs because he didn't want to wait for the elevator. The stairwell was filthy — debris and litter on the steps. He slipped on it and fell. Building owners are required to keep stairwells clean. That's basic building maintenance, and it's the law. The building at 75 LaSalle Street failed that basic obligation, and our client was injured as a direct result of that neglect." — Howard Raphaelson, Founding Partner

$525,000 Mediation Result for a Manhattan Stairwell Fall

This $525,000 mediation result covers medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, and the lasting physical limitations our client now manages. It holds the building owner at 75 LaSalle Street accountable for failing to maintain clean stairwell conditions — a routine maintenance obligation that, when neglected, turns a basic building feature into a fall hazard.

If you fell on dirty, debris-covered stairs in a Manhattan apartment building, our premises liability attorneys have experience with building maintenance negligence claims and are ready to review your case.