Sidewalk Fall Permanently Injured Woman Who Sued Prince George's County

HYATTSVILLE, MD — A Prince George's woman has been awarded by a jury a financial lump sum after she was permanently disabled following a fall on a county-owned sidewalk.

According to the complaint filed in the case, Christine Woods was walking toward the disability ramp in the pedestrian plaza outside the Hyattsville Justice Center and County Services Building, located at 5012 Rhode Island Ave. in Hyattsville, when her foot caught on uneven, protruding bricks in the walkway. The fall caused immediate injuries to multiple parts of her body, the complaint stated.

Court filings said Woods sustained facial lacerations requiring sutures, the loss of a tooth, bilateral knee injuries with cartilage damage, a rotator cuff strain and shoulder impingement, and a significant worsening of pre-existing spinal conditions. Medical records submitted in the case indicate that her treatment included emergency care, orthopedic consultations, MRIs, CT scans, nerve conduction studies, pain management injections and more than 75 sessions of physical and aquatic therapy. Her total medical expenses exceeded $52,000, with more than $34,000 remaining unpaid at the time of filing, her legal team shared.

According to the complaint, multiple healthcare providers determined that Woods reached maximum medical improvement with permanent impairments and no anticipated further recovery. Court documents state that she now requires the use of a cane, is unable to stand for extended periods and has been unable to return to work since the incident.

The lawsuit brought two counts against Prince George’s County: negligence and failure to inspect and maintain the premises. The complaint stated that the brick pavement contained significant height differentials, uneven surfaces and protruding bricks that created a tripping hazard, and that the condition was "readily apparent and discoverable through reasonable inspection." The complaint noted that the county repaired the brick pavement after Woods’ fall.

“No one should be permanently disabled because their local government failed to maintain a sidewalk outside its own courthouse,” said Justly Prudent Managing Attorney Jordan D. Howlette who represented Woods. “Christine Woods went to a public building and left with injuries that changed her life forever. This verdict tells Prince George’s County and every municipality that neglecting basic safety has consequences. We are grateful the jury saw this case for what it was and delivered justice for Ms. Woods in full.”

A jury in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County awarded $750,000 to Woods. The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before returning the verdict, which matched the amount requested by Howlette. The $750,000 verdict represents compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity and permanent loss of quality of life, as established through the evidence presented at trial.