A recent lawsuit has brought to light a harrowing incident involving a severe fall and alleged negligence. Deborah Stanton filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on November 13, 2024, against Sequoia WCL Investments LLC. The case revolves around a fall that occurred on September 6, 2024, at a building owned by the defendant in Colfax, California.
The plaintiff, Deborah Stanton, claims she suffered significant injuries after stepping into an unmarked utility closet with missing subflooring. The lawsuit alleges that Sequoia WCL Investments LLC failed to provide adequate warnings about the hazardous condition within their property. According to the complaint, tenants had previously reported water intrusion and drainage issues leading to dry rot in the building's subfloor. Repairs were underway when Stanton fell several feet through the removed flooring inside the utility closet. She argues that no cones or signs were placed outside to warn of this danger.
Stanton is seeking damages for negligence and premises liability. She contends that Sequoia WCL Investments LLC owed her a duty of care to maintain safe conditions within their building but breached this duty by allowing such dangerous conditions to persist without warning occupants. "Defendant...owed Plaintiff a duty of care to exercise reasonable care for her safety," states the complaint. Furthermore, Stanton claims she has endured both economic and noneconomic damages due to her injuries—ranging from medical expenses and lost income to physical pain and emotional distress.
In addition to these accusations, Stanton also targets unnamed defendants labeled as "DOES 1-100," asserting they too are responsible for her accident either through direct involvement or as agents of Sequoia WCL Investments LLC. She believes these parties collectively contributed to creating an unsafe environment by neglecting necessary precautions during ongoing repairs.
Through this legal action, Stanton seeks various forms of relief from the court: compensation for medical costs incurred from her injuries; reimbursement for lost earnings; damages reflecting diminished earning capacity; as well as additional economic and noneconomic damages proven at trial. Her attorneys argue that interest should be applied according to law along with coverage for any legal costs incurred throughout proceedings.
Representing Deborah Stanton are attorneys Jordan W. Maurer and Marshal R. Parks from Maurer Law Corporation based in Auburn, California. The case is presided over by judges at the Superior Court of California under Case ID CGC-24-619721.