Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Shop owners sue city over ramp accidents


From the NY Post:

Two Queens shops shuttered after out-of-control cars plowed into their storefronts not once but twice — and within just nine days of each other — have filed a $1 million lawsuit, blaming a 59th Street Bridge exit ramp.

Espinal Caribbean Restaurant II had been open four years in Long Island City when the first crash happened in March 2011.

“It was a major setback and years of work evaporated,’’ owner Tony Espinal said. “But then the second crash!

“And then the third crash!” he said, referring to yet another in which a car sped toward the shops, only to be stopped by scaffolding erected after the earlier accidents.

Joining Espinal, 44, in the suit is Villa De Beauté hair-salon owner Akber Jiwani, 32.

The owners of the two smashed storefronts on Queens Plaza South teamed up to sue the city, the Department of Transportation, and the drivers for damages.

The destruction of their shops and their ensuing business losses were caused by “negligently planned and/or designed traffic patterns . . . leading to the location of the incident which constitutes a hazardous and/or dangerous condition,” according to their lawsuit, recently filed in Queens Supreme Court.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

it is ONLY nyc tax payers hard earned many millions squandered because of stupid city commissioners and a rino mayor.

Anonymous said...

What the hell is wrong with drivers?

How could any responsible mook make a mistake like that.

Anonymous said...

Queens Plaza - a great place for the 300 year old millstones.

Nice work Dutch Kills Civic.

Anonymous said...

This never would have happened if they didn't get rid of the trolleys which ran on those lanes.

Anonymous said...

What the hell is wrong with drivers?

How could any responsible mook make a mistake like that.
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By taking that ramp at over 60 mph, radio blasting, driver slouched down, wearing sunglasses at night, one arm on the top of the steering wheel, the left arm supporting his chin.

Anonymous said...

If the city is liable for anything it is not adequately enforcing safety laws against drivers.

Anonymous said...

The curse of Ed Koch!

Anonymous said...

this view of the bridge exit is not the view that existed during the days of the three accidents.

i worked nearby at the time and recall that the cars came off of the MAIN Road of the bridge ,eastbound,.

because of new bike lanes and curb/earth/tree/ construction being done by dept.of transportation's SADIE ,the main road bridge exit was detoured by large orange cones and jersey concrete rails. drivers had to make the sharp/hard right, to continue east on the plaza.

speed ,no notice,and no familiarity with the detour, may have been the culprit. R.I.P.,passengers and pedestrian killed.

the present curb/earth did not exist then.

Anonymous said...

Move the Department of Traffic offices to the accident locations.

Peter said...

How many of the drivers who crashed were travelling at the 30mph speed limit, or even within 10 mph of it?

Anonymous said...

"this view of the bridge exit is not the view that existed during the days of the three accidents."

If so then the City was negligent. That lane should have been shut down in all but daylight hours and speed restrictions posted (were they?)

Well, here comes another payout by the self-insured City aka "US".

Anonymous said...

If the city is liable for anything it is not adequately enforcing safety laws against drivers.
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That would mean the NYPD would have to write more moving summonses. And THAT would amount to a ticket quota. Law Enforcement is a slippery slope.

Anonymous said...

Nice work by Penny Lee of City Planning and by that architect suggested by Noguchi.

The tombstone concrete decor, the cute raw wooden seats by the millstones, the faux marsh in Dutch Kill Green over a subway tunnel that will attract garbage and rats as 5 people sit in a multi-million dollar plaza - yes yes yes - good work people.

Anonymous said...

A good case to watch for all you civic organizations who have been trying in vane to get nyc dot and nypd to enforce and provide better traffic controls.

Helen said...

Anonymous #1 ~

Bloomberg isn't a rino. He calls himself an "Independent".

NYC voters actually voted FOR term limits which were overturned by the City Council.

The DOT is responsible for safety on all streets. Sadik Khan and her ridiculous policies aided and abetted by power mad billionaire Bloomberg is a menace to society.