In a gripping legal battle, a San Francisco resident has filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco, alleging negligence in maintaining public sidewalks. Catherine Barnes initiated the complaint on February 18, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for San Francisco County, targeting the City and County of San Francisco as the defendant.
The case revolves around a hazardous sidewalk condition that allegedly caused significant injury to Barnes. According to the complaint, Barnes was walking along Lake Street on August 2, 2024, when she tripped over a raised sidewalk slab near St. Anne’s Home for the elderly. The raised slab was reportedly due to tree roots from city-maintained trees lifting the pavement. This area had been flagged multiple times by residents through San Francisco's 311 service as a dangerous tripping hazard but remained unresolved.
Barnes claims that despite several complaints made by local residents about the sidewalk's condition—dating back to December 15, 2022—the City failed to address these issues adequately. The calls reported "roots of city-maintained trees lifting sidewalks" and creating hazards, with one caller warning that pedestrians were frequently tripping over these defects. The City's Department of Public Works (DPW) is accused of neglecting its duty under its own guidelines which prioritize repairs in high-traffic areas like transit stops and schools.
The lawsuit highlights DPW's responsibilities under Article 16 of the Public Works Code and DPW Order No.: 177,526, which mandate timely repair of sidewalk defects impacting pedestrian accessibility. Despite these mandates and repeated notifications from concerned citizens, no corrective actions were taken at the location where Barnes fell.
Barnes' injuries include a distal radius fracture on her right wrist—a significant injury given her right-hand dominance—and a sprain to her left wrist. She asserts that these injuries have resulted in substantial economic damages exceeding $35,000 due to medical expenses and lost income.
In her lawsuit, Barnes seeks economic damages for past and future medical expenses and income loss, non-economic damages for pain and suffering, costs of suit, prejudgment interest as per California Civil Code sections 3287-3291, and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court. A jury trial has been demanded to resolve this matter.
Representing Catherine Barnes is attorney Bryan S. Vix from Coopers LLP. The case is identified under Case No. CGC-25-622487 with Judge Sahar Enayati overseeing proceedings.